FIFA suspended Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes for ten official matches and fined the Argentine Football Association (AFA) 321,000 U.S. dollars over a Malvinas sovereignty banner and several incidents at the 2026 World Cup.
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) officially announced this Friday the disciplinary resolutions linked to the events that marked the closing of the recent 2026 World Cup on July 19.
The main measure of this ruling involves Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes, who must serve a suspension of ten official matches as a consequence of the aggressions registered after the final match.
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The decision came after the federation completed its investigations into the altercation that broke out between both squads at the end of the decisive encounter.
The file of the governing body also includes other members of the South American team following the pertinent investigations. Defender Nahuel Molina received a sanction of seven matches, assistant coach Roberto Ayala was separated for three fixtures, and midfielder Thiago Almada will be absent for two commitments. On the side of the European delegation, Spanish player Gavi was punished with a one-match suspension for conduct classified as unsportsmanlike.
OFFICIAL: FIFA suspensions following post Argentina-Spain clash, including 10 games ban for Paredes, 7 for Nahuel Molina and 1 for Pablo Gavi.
Paredes: 10-game ban + $90,000 fine
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 21, 2026
FIFA detailed explicitly that these suspensions apply exclusively to the official calendar of national teams, which guarantees that the players involved will continue their regular activities with their respective clubs without any type of regulatory restrictions. The decision thus limits its scope to international commitments and leaves club competitions unaffected.
BREAKING: FIFA rolls out punishment on Argentina FA and players after World Cup final fracas.
My Leandro Paredes is given 10-match ban
Nahuel Molina – 7 match ban
Thiago Almada – 1 match.AFA should go to CAS to (at least) reduce the sanctions. pic.twitter.com/DBRdwYlg1T
— Fisayo Dairo (@FisayoDairo) August 21, 2026
The **Argentine Football Association (AFA) also received an economic sanction for “*racist, homophobic and discriminatory chanting and insults made by Argentine spectators”***in matches against Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland, England and Spain. For these facts, FIFA also decided a fine of 100,000 U.S. dollars and put another identical amount on hold for six months.
Furthermore, FIFA notes that “as an alternative to closing 50% of available seats, this National Association with the approval of FIFA, will be able to occupy 50% of these closed seats with community and/or special interest groups (such as families, students and anti-discrimination organizations). The proposed seating plan should include measures against discrimination (e.g. viewers wearing anti-discrimination T-shirts and/or displaying anti-discrimination banners).”
Argentina was also sanctioned for throwing items onto the playing field by fans in matches against Switzerland and England, which resulted in the delay of the start of the match and violations of FIFA’s security protocol, “a fine of $91,000 was determined”, the statement added.
Argentina Fined for Malvinas Banner
In the institutional sphere, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) was sanctioned with an economic fine that amounts to 250,000 euros. This penalty responds to the exhibition of a banner with the slogan “Malvinas are Argentinean”, displayed by the South American players during the celebration of their victory against England in the semifinal stage of the international tournament. The banner appeared during the celebrations after the semifinal victory over England, a match loaded with symbolism for Argentine football.
“For displaying the flag of Malvinas (use of a sporting event to carry out non-sports events) the payment of a fine of US$10,000 and inappropriate behavior of spectators, the sum of US$20,000. FIFA highlighted in its official statement that the sanction is due to “violation of Article 13, paragraph 2 © (“using a sporting event for events other than sports”), of the FIFA Disciplinary Code“, the football body stated in an official communiqué.
While for the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean this message constitutes a legitimate and peaceful historical reclamation of territorial sovereignty, the sports federation justified the economic punishment by arguing a direct violation of its internal regulations on the prohibition of political expressions in competition scenarios.
La AFA también deberá pagar una multa millonaria por la bandera de Malvinas.
Lo repetimos todos: gracias muchachos por este momento. Las Malvinas son argentinas.
pic.twitter.com/nQWrXK3P79 https://t.co/3xSw8dpB8N— Fabipa (@fabipa90) August 21, 2026
Text reads: “We all repeat it: thank you guys for this moment. Malvinas are Argentinean.”
Argentina maintains a permanent claim of sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands, a position sustained across successive governments and regional organizations. The banner displayed by the players converted that historical demand into a visible protest within one of the most watched sporting events on the planet, which explains the institutional weight of the FIFA sanction.
The disciplinary resolutions take effect immediately for the upcoming commitments of the national teams involved. Meanwhile, the affected players will continue to compete with their clubs in their respective leagues, and the Argentine Football Association’s economic penalty adds a new chapter to the long-standing Malvinas sovereignty debate in international forum.
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