Leandro Paredes Suspended for 10 Matches After World Cup Brawl

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

The chaos broke out 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 heated confrontation between players and staff from both sides.

Fifa charged Paredes with three counts of assault and Molina with two. Each Argentina defender and midfielder was also fined US$90,000.

The disciplinary fallout did not stop there. Argentina’s Thiago Almada and Spain’s Gavi were each cited for one count of unsporting behaviour and handed one‑match suspensions. Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala, who had apologised for his involvement in the incident, received a three‑match ban after being found guilty of one assault count. Almada, Gavi and Ayala were each fined US$30,000.

Argentina’s governing body also paid a heavy price. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) was fined a total of US$321,000 for multiple disciplinary breaches during the tournament, including players displaying a banner reading “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”) after their semi‑final victory over England.

For Argentina, the punishments now stretch well beyond one bad night against Spain and into the heart of their next international cycle.