FIFA handed a historic sanction to Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina following the incidents in the 2026 World Cup final against Spain. The Boca Juniors midfielder received a 10-match suspension, a penalty only surpassed by Iraqi player Samir Shaker. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has already announced it will appeal the decision and does not rule out taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

A sanction that shakes Argentine football

On Friday, August 21, FIFA announced the sanctions for the incidents that occurred after the final of the 2026 World Cup, where Argentina fell to Spain in New Jersey. The harshest penalty fell on Leandro Paredes, who was suspended for 10 matches and fined USD 90,000 for his assault on Spanish midfielder Gavi.

This punishment against Paredes has become one of the most severe in the history of World Cups. According to statistician Silvio Maverino, only Iraqi player Samir Shaker received a tougher sanction: a one-year suspension for spitting at a referee during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Sanction details

  • Leandro Paredes: 10 matches and a USD 90,000 fine.
  • Nahuel Molina: 7 matches and a USD 90,000 fine.
  • Roberto Ayala (assistant coach): 3 matches and a USD 30,000 fine.
  • Thiago Almada: 1 match and a USD 30,000 fine.

Financial penalties

The AFA must pay a total of USD 561,000 for various infractions: display of the Falkland Islands flag (USD 10,000), inappropriate spectator conduct (USD 20,000), discriminatory chants (USD 100,000), throwing of objects (USD 91,000), and an additional USD 100,000 suspended for six months. Additionally, the national team will play its next two home matches with 50% stadium capacity.

The Luis Suárez precedent

The sanction against Paredes even surpasses the famous bite by Luis Suárez on Giorgio Chiellini during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which earned him a 9-match suspension and four months of ineligibility. On that occasion, the CAS allowed Suárez to train with his new club, Barcelona.

The AFA's strategy

The AFA's legal advisor, Andrés Patón Urich, confirmed that the entity will request the grounds of the ruling and will file an appeal with FIFA's Appeal Committee. "The sanction is unfair and disproportionate," he stated, and left open the possibility of going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Paredes himself had questioned his future with the national team after the lost final: "I don't know if I'm up for continuing. We need to digest what happened," he confessed after the match.

When could Paredes return?

According to the FIFA calendar, the Argentine national team could play up to 10 friendly matches between September 2026 and June 2027. If the sanction is confirmed, Paredes would only be able to wear the sky-blue and white jersey again in the September 2027 window, while Molina could return in March of that year.

The news sparked a strong debate in the football world, with newspapers across the globe describing the sanction as "a disgrace" or "FIFA fury," and Argentine fans wondering what will happen to the team's future ahead of the qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup.