Leandro Paredes Receives 10-Match Ban After World Cup Final Incident

Leandro Paredes has been hit with a 10‑match ban for his role in the ugly scenes that followed Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain, Fifa confirmed on Friday, with teammate Nahuel Molina suspended for seven games.

The flashpoint came at the final whistle. As Spain’s substitutes sprinted onto the pitch to celebrate their title, Paredes shoved Gavi to the ground, sparking a brief but heated confrontation between players and staff from both sides.

Fifa’s disciplinary committee came down hard. Paredes was found guilty on three counts of assault, Molina on two. Both Argentina players were fined US$90,000.

They were not alone in facing sanctions. Thiago Almada of Argentina and Spain’s Gavi were each charged with one count of unsporting behaviour and received one‑match suspensions, along with fines of US$30,000.

Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala, who had apologised for his involvement in the incident, was charged with one count of assault. He was banned for three games and also fined US$30,000.

The punishments did not stop at individuals. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) was fined a total of US$321,000 for multiple disciplinary breaches during the tournament. That figure includes sanctions for the display by some players of a banner reading “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”) after their semi-final victory over England.

Heavy bans, heavy fines, and a World Cup final that will be remembered as much for its fallout as for Spain’s triumph.