FIFA bans Argentina players and fines for World Cup final brawl and political banner incident
Consensus Summary
FIFA imposed severe penalties on Argentina following a post-match brawl in the World Cup final against Spain and a political banner incident during the semi-final against England. Leandro Paredes received a 10-match ban and a $90,000 fine, while Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada received shorter bans and fines. Argentina’s coach, Roberto Ayala, was also banned for 3 matches. Spain’s Gavi received a 1-match ban. The AFA was fined $321,000 by the Guardian or $110,000 by ABC for displaying a Falkland Islands banner and discrimination offenses, with additional orders to play matches at 50% capacity. The Guardian notes the banner was condemned by UK politicians, while ABC compares the bans to past FIFA sanctions like Suárez’s 2014 bite incident. Both sources agree on the core penalties but differ on fine amounts and additional restrictions.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Leandro Paredes received a 10-match ban and a $90,000 (£66,000) fine
- Nahuel Molina received a 7-match suspension and a $90,000 (£66,000) fine
- Thiago Almada received a 1-match ban and a $30,000 (£22,000) fine
- Roberto Ayala (Argentina coach) received a 3-match ban and a $30,000 fine
- Spain’s Gavi received a 1-match ban and a $30,000 fine
- Argentina’s AFA was fined $321,000 (Guardian) or $110,000 (ABC) for displaying a Falkland Islands banner and discrimination offenses
- Argentina was ordered to play its next home match at 50% capacity
- Argentina’s semi-final win over England on 15 July was commemorated as National Football Teams Day
- Argentina received $34 million in World Cup prize money from FIFA
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The AFA was fined $100,000 of which part was suspended
- The banner incident involved the phrase 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas' (The Falkland Islands are Argentinian)
- The AFA was ordered to play a further match at 50% capacity restriction (suspended)
- The banner was condemned by UK politicians, including Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey
- Uefa had banned two Spain players (Rodri and Álvaro Morata) after singing about Spain’s claims to Gibraltar after Euro 2024
- Paredes' ban is compared to Luis Suárez’s 4-month ban in 2014 for biting Giorgio Chiellini in the 2014 World Cup
- Suárez was also banned for 8 more competition games for Uruguay in 2014
- Paredes' ban equals Josip Šimunić’s 10-game ban in 2013 for leading Nazi chants in a World Cup qualifier
- The AFA was ordered to spend $100,000 on anti-racism projects
- Gavi’s 1-match ban is for a Nations League match against England on 26 September
- The brawl occurred after Argentina lost the final to Spain, with Spain’s Ferran Torres scoring the only goal in extra time
- Enzo Fernández was sent off during the final
- The AFA can appeal sanctions to FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the AFA was fined $321,000, while ABC states it was fined $110,000 for the banner and discrimination offenses
- The Guardian mentions a $100,000 fine suspended for Argentina, while ABC states FIFA deferred a $100,000 fine for probationary periods
- The Guardian says the AFA was fined $30,000 for Roberto Ayala, while ABC says it was $30,000 but does not explicitly state it was for Ayala
- The Guardian mentions a 50% capacity restriction for a further match (suspended), while ABC only mentions a 50% capacity restriction for the next home game
Source Articles
Leandro Paredes receives 10-match ban as Argentina punished for World Cup final brawl
Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada and Gavi also suspended Fifa issue $321,000 fine for Falkland Islands banner Three Argentina players have been banned for their part in a brawl at the end of last month’s World Cup final against Spain , but they have only been fined for displaying a Falkland Islands banner after the semi-final win over England. Leandro Paredes has been given a 10-match ban and a $90,000 (£66,000) fine by Fifa’s disciplinary committee, while Nahuel Molina was given a seven-match suspe
Argentina star hit with one of the biggest bans in World Cup history
Argentina's Leandro Paredes is banned from playing for his country for 10 games after striking Spanish opponents after the final whistle in the World Cup final.