Leandro Paredes Receives 10-Match Ban for World Cup Brawl

Leandro Paredes has been hit with a 10‑match ban for his role in the ugly brawl that erupted at the end of 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 poured onto the pitch to celebrate their title, Paredes shoved Gavi to the ground, sparking a brief but chaotic scuffle 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.

The fallout did not stop there. Argentina’s Thiago Almada and Spain’s Gavi were each charged with one count of unsporting behaviour and received one‑match bans. Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala, who later apologised for his involvement in the confrontation, was found guilty of one assault count and handed a three‑game suspension. Almada, Gavi and Ayala were each fined US$30,000.

Sanctions also hit the federation level. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) was fined a total of US$321,000 for several disciplinary breaches during the tournament. That figure included punishment for the display by some Argentina players of a banner reading “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”) after their semi-final win over England.

The verdict leaves Argentina counting the cost of a final that slipped away on the pitch – and exploded after it.