Fifa's disciplinary committee has issued a series of sanctions against Argentina following incidents at last month's World Cup, including a lengthy suspension for midfielder Leandro Paredes stemming from a post-final scuffle with Spain, while the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) was separately punished over a controversial banner referencing the Falkland Islands.
Paredes was handed a 10-match ban along with a fine of $90,000 (£66,000) for his involvement in the altercation that broke out at the conclusion of the World Cup final against Spain. Defender Nahuel Molina received a seven-match suspension and was fined the same amount for his role in the incident. Forward Thiago Almada was given a lighter punishment of a one-match ban and a $30,000 (£22,000) fine.
The sanctions extended beyond the playing squad, with assistant coach Roberto Ayala banned for three matches and fined $30,000 for his part in the fracas. On the Spanish side, Gavi was also punished for his involvement, receiving a one-match ban and a $30,000 fine.
Separately, Fifa addressed the fallout from Argentina's semi-final victory over England, during which players displayed a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" — "The Falkland Islands are Argentinian." The AFA was fined $321,000 in connection with the banner, with the penalty also covering additional breaches of Fifa's anti-discrimination rules committed by Argentine supporters during other matches at the tournament.
As a further consequence of the discriminatory conduct by fans, the AFA has been ordered to play its next home fixture with attendance capped at 50% of stadium capacity. A second capacity restriction of the same magnitude was also imposed but suspended. Additionally, $100,000 of the overall fine was suspended by Fifa.
The Falklands banner sparked significant political backlash in the United Kingdom when it was unveiled, with Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey among those calling for disciplinary action against the players responsible for holding it up. The incident drew comparisons to a separate controversy involving Spanish players Rodri and Álvaro Morata, who were banned by Uefa after singing chants referencing Spain's claims over Gibraltar following their Euro 2024 title win.
Despite the diplomatic sensitivity surrounding the banner display, Argentina's football authorities have continued to celebrate the achievements of their national team from that World Cup campaign. On 6 August, the AFA confirmed that 15 July — the date of the semi-final triumph over England — will be permanently recognized as National Football Teams Day going forward.
The disciplinary rulings highlight Fifa's ongoing efforts to balance punishment for on-field misconduct with broader concerns about political statements and discriminatory behavior connected to international football events. While the brawl-related bans target individual conduct during a high-profile match, the banner-related sanctions reflect Fifa's stance on geopolitical messaging at global tournaments, an issue that has repeatedly surfaced across multiple competitions involving both Argentine and Spanish national teams.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.