FIFA hands Leandro Paredes ten-match ban after World Cup final melee

FIFA punished three Argentine players for violent conduct after the World Cup final loss to Spain, imposing a ten-match suspension on midfielder Leandro Paredes after he grabbed Eric Garcia by the throat and shoved Gavi to the ground. Defender Nahuel Molina received a seven-game ban and Thiago Almada a one-game ban, while Spain’s Gavi was handed a one-match suspension for a Nations League fixture against England. The governing body also levied fines of $90,000 on Paredes and Molina and $30,000 on Almada, and fined the Argentine football federation $110,000 for a series of incidents, mandating $100,000 for antiracism initiatives.

The ten-match ban effectively sidelines Paredes from the national team for roughly a year, covering all scheduled friendlies through June 2027. Coach Roberto Ayala was given a three-game suspension and a $30,000 fine. The sanctions are among the harshest in World Cup history, comparable to Luis Suarez’s 2014 punishment.