Paredes and Molina among those punished after Argentina-Spain final fracas

Leandro Paredes has been suspended for 10 matches after FIFA imposed sanctions over the confrontation that followed the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee announced its decisions one month after the disorder, issuing bans and substantial fines to everyone identified as being involved in the incident.

Paredes received the longest suspension, with FIFA judging him to have been the most violent participant during the closing stages of the match. Argentina team-mate Nahuel Molina was banned for seven games after attacking Rodri without justification.

Thiago Almada was suspended for one match after holding Gavi while the Spain player was being struck by Paredes.

Ayala was given a three-match ban for punching Dani Olmo. Gavi, the only Spain player sanctioned, will also miss one match after pushing Eric Garcia, who was additionally attacked by Paredes.

The disciplinary action also applies to four members of the Argentina delegation. Alongside the match suspensions, FIFA imposed significant financial penalties on those involved.

Paredes and Molina were each fined 77,000 euros. The penalties for Almada and Ayala, described in the decision in connection with the coaching staff and a former footballer, were set at 25,000 euros each. A further 25,000-euro fine was issued to the Barcelona player.

As a result of his suspension, Gavi will not be available for Spain’s Nations League match against England at Wembley on 26 September.

FIFA said the bans would be carried forward to the next matches involving the relevant national teams. The measure is based on Article 69, paragraphs 2a and 3, of its Disciplinary Code.

That means the three Argentina players affected by the ruling will be unable to join their national team for the fixtures covered by their suspensions. The length of Paredes’ punishment makes it the most severe individual sanction arising from the post-match confrontation, while Molina’s seven-game ban is the next longest.

The penalties bring a formal conclusion to FIFA’s disciplinary process following the scenes after the final. Both squads were involved in the disturbances, although Gavi was the only Spain player to receive a suspension.

The match had ended with tensions escalating between players, leading to several physical confrontations in the closing minutes and after the final whistle. FIFA’s ruling has now established the periods for which the suspended players cannot represent their countries, as well as the financial consequences for the Argentina delegation members named in the case.