Argentina are preparing to appeal a sweeping package of FIFA sanctions following incidents at the 2026 World Cup, including lengthy bans over the post-final brawl with Spain, discriminatory behaviour by supporters and the display of a Falkland Islands banner after beating England.
Leandro Paredes has been handed the heaviest individual punishment, receiving a 10-match international suspension and a $90,000 fine for his involvement in the confrontation which followed Argentina’s World Cup final defeat.
Nahuel Molina has been suspended for seven matches and fined $90,000, while Thiago Almada received a one-match ban and $30,000 fine.
Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala was banned for three matches and fined $30,000.
Spain midfielder Gavi was also punished, receiving a one-match suspension and $30,000 fine for unsporting behaviour.
Spain beat defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final in New Jersey on 19 July, with Ferran Torres scoring the winning goal in the 106th minute. A confrontation broke out after the final whistle as Spain’s players and substitutes celebrated their victory.
FIFA had previously opened proceedings against Paredes over three alleged counts of assault and Molina over two alleged assault offences, as well as separate allegations of unsporting behaviour. Ayala was also investigated for assault, while Almada and Gavi faced unsporting behaviour proceedings.
Argentina federation fined $321,000
The individual bans are only one part of FIFA’s disciplinary action.
The Argentine Football Association, known as the AFA, has been hit with sanctions totalling $321,000 following a series of incidents during the tournament.
The AFA has published a detailed breakdown of the punishment.
It says $10,000 relates specifically to the display of the “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” banner shown by Argentine players after their 2-1 semi-final victory over England.
A further $20,000 was imposed for inappropriate spectator behaviour.
Players including Lisandro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso were photographed displaying the banner following the England match.
The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory, although Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over the islands, which it calls the Malvinas.
Britain and Argentina fought a war over the islands in 1982.
FIFA’s rules prohibit the use of sporting events for demonstrations of a non-sporting or political nature.
Discriminatory chants bring further punishment
The biggest section of the federation’s disciplinary case concerns discriminatory behaviour by supporters.
According to the AFA, FIFA identified racist, homophobic and discriminatory chants or insults during Argentina’s matches against Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland, England and Spain.
A $100,000 fine was imposed, with a further $100,000 sanction suspended for six months.
Argentina must also play its next official home international with 50 per cent of the relevant stadium seating closed.
A second equivalent stadium sanction has been suspended for one year, provided there is no further offence of a similar nature and severity.
FIFA has also ordered $100,000 to be invested in a programme designed to combat discrimination.
The federation may, with FIFA’s approval, use some of the otherwise closed seating for community groups, families, students or anti-discrimination organisations as part of the programme.
Objects thrown and security breaches
Another $91,000 of sanctions relates to objects being thrown onto the pitch by Argentina supporters during matches against Switzerland and England, along with delayed kick-offs and breaches of FIFA security protocols.
Taken together, FIFA said the federation had breached rules covering political or non-sporting demonstrations, team misconduct, discrimination, racist abuse and order and security at matches.
Argentina plans appeal
Argentina has made clear it does not regard the matter as finished.
The AFA says its legal department will request FIFA’s full reasons for the decisions before lodging appeals with FIFA’s Appeal Committee.
It has also reserved the right to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if necessary.
The principal target of any appeal is expected to be the lengthy suspensions imposed on Paredes and Molina.
There has, however, already been one significant change in how the bans can be served.
On 27 August, the AFA officially confirmed that FIFA had approved its request for the suspensions imposed on Paredes, Molina, Almada and Ayala to be served during senior international “A” friendlies as well as official matches, whichever come first.
That could significantly reduce the practical impact of the longer bans if Argentina schedules enough friendly internationals.
The approval changes which matches can count towards the suspensions. It does not reduce the number of matches in the sanctions themselves.
The AFA says it is still waiting for the full reasoning behind FIFA’s decisions before filing its appeals, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport potentially available as a final avenue.
For now, Paredes remains suspended for 10 Argentina matches and Molina for seven, while the AFA continues to prepare its challenge to one of the most substantial packages of disciplinary sanctions arising from the 2026 World Cup.
