FIFA has imposed significant penalties on Argentina following a post-match altercation after the World Cup final against Spain. Leandro Paredes has received a 10-match suspension, while Nahuel Molina has been banned for seven matches, with both players also facing fines of $90,000 each.

Paredes and Molina Face Heavy Sanctions

The disciplinary actions stem from a confrontation that erupted after Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final held on July 19. Paredes was charged with three counts of assault, leading to the most severe punishment, while Molina faced two assault counts, one of which was attempted. The incident began when Paredes pushed Spain's Gavi as the Spanish substitutes entered the field to celebrate their win, escalating into a larger conflict that required intervention from players and staff.

In addition to the player suspensions, Argentina's assistant coach Roberto Ayala received a three-match ban and a $30,000 fine for his role in the incident. Thiago Almada and Gavi were each suspended for one match and fined $30,000 as well. FIFA confirmed that these match suspensions will apply to the players' next national team fixtures.

AFA Fined and Restricted

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has also been penalized with a fine of $321,000 due to various disciplinary violations during the tournament. These breaches include the use of sporting events for non-sporting demonstrations, team misconduct, and discriminatory behavior from supporters. The sanctions are linked to incidents such as the display of a politically charged banner following Argentina's semi-final victory over England.

As part of the penalties, Argentina must restrict attendance to 50% capacity for their next two home matches. Of the total fine, $100,000 is mandated to be allocated towards initiatives aimed at combating discrimination. FIFA has suspended part of the punishment, including one of the restricted-attendance matches and $100,000 of the fine, pending a probationary period.

The AFA has indicated plans to appeal against these sanctions, signaling their intent to contest the decisions made by FIFA.