Argentina‘s Leandro Paredes has been banned for 10 international matches as part of a raft of punishments handed down to the World Cup runners-up for their conduct after the final and throughout the tournament.
The 2022 champions fell short in their effort to successfully defend the title as they were beaten 1-0 in the final by Spain, who claimed the trophy for the second time thanks to Ferran Torres’ extra-time strike.
But there were ugly scenes after the final whistle, with several members of the Argentina squad involved in angry confrontations with their Spain counterparts.
Paredes was at the centre of the controversy, as he grabbed Eric Garcia by the throat before pushing Gavi to the turf.
FIFA confirmed last month that it had charged Paredes with three counts of assault. Nahuel Molina (two counts, one completed and one attempted) and assistant coach Roberto Ayala (one count) were also charged. Ayala was involved in confrontation with Spain’s Dani Olmo and promised to apologise in person to the Barcelona star.
Nahuel Molina (one count) and Thiago Almada (one count) were charged for unsporting behaviour, as was Spain midfielder Gavi (one count).
All parties had the opportunity to present their case to FIFA’s disciplinary committee, but they have each received bans.
In addition to his suspension, Paredes has been issued a fine of USD 90,000. Molina has received the same fine along with a seven-game ban. Ayala’s conduct has resulted in a three-match ban and a USD 30,000 fine, with Almada handed the same financial penalty and a one-game suspension.
Barcelona’s Gavi has received the same punishment as Almada, ruling him out of Spain’s UEFA Nations League clash with England on September 26.
Argentina punished for Falklands banners
Argentina stirred controversy in their semi-final win over England, which saw them come from behind to claim a dramatic 2-1 win.
The Argentina players celebrated after the game with a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas (The Falklands are Argentine).”
Britain and Argentina went to war over the Falklands in 1982, with the 74-day conflict resulting in the deaths of 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British combatants and three civilians. The Falklands remain a British controlled territory, though Argentina insists the archipelago in the South Atlantic is its possession.
Proceedings were opened against the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) for the team “using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature” and breaches of articles of the FIFA disciplinary code relating to “team misconduct”, “discrimination and racist abuse in light of discriminatory chants and gestures by its supporters” and “order and security at matches”.
Ruling on those matters, FIFA fined the AFA USD 321,000, with the disciplinary committee ruling that USD 100,000 of the fine must be invested in a plan to combat discrimination.
Additionally, FIFA has also ordered the AFA to play its next two home matches at 50 per cent capacity. However, one of those games and USD 100,000 of the fine is suspended, with a probationary period to apply.
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