The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has handed down tough sanctions after the ugly scenes that followed Spain’s 1-0 win over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final.
Midfielder Leandro Paredes was hit with a 10-match ban for his role in the on-field clashes at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Team-mate Nahuel Molina picked up a seven-match suspension. Both players must also pay $90,000 (£66,000) fines; the bans apply only to international fixtures.
The Argentinian Football Association (AFA) has been fined $321,000 (£235,000) for breaches of FIFA’s disciplinary code, including using a sports event for non-sporting demonstrations, team misconduct, and discriminatory chants and gestures by supporters. Of that amount, $100,000 (£73,000) must be spent on a plan to combat discrimination, and a further $100,000 (£73,000) has been suspended, subject to probation. FIFA also ordered Argentina to play their next two home matches at 50% capacity, although one of those match restrictions has been suspended. The fine also covers a banner by Argentina players claiming Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands after their 2-1 semi-final win over England.
Roberto Ayala, a member of Argentina’s coaching staff, was given a three-match ban and fined $30,000 for his part in the post-match confrontations. On the Spanish side, Gavi will serve a one-match ban and pay $30,000; the same sanction was applied to Argentina’s Thiago Almada.
FIFA appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor last month to probe the incidents after the final whistle, when several Argentina players and backroom staff clashed with Spain players. The punishment is among FIFA’s heaviest in recent years and reflects its anger at scenes that marred a final watched by an estimated 1.5 billion people. Argentina, long seen as one of the world’s best teams, now finds itself at the centre of one of the tournament’s most embarrassing controversies.
