[EN] FIFA does not forgive: heavy sanctions for Argentines and Spaniards for the World Cup final

The fight that occurred after the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina already has consequences. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has announced the sanctions for the incidents that occurred on the pitch after the match played on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium, with Argentines Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina as the most punished players.

Argentine Leandro Paredes has received a ten-game suspension and a fine of $90,000 for his participation in the altercations after the match, in which he hit the Spaniards Eric Garcia and Gavi, according to ESPN. For his part, the also Argentine Nahuel Molina will be suspended for seven games and will have to pay another 90,000 dollars for his aggression against the Spaniard Rodri, which triggered part of the brawl.

The sanctions also reach other protagonists of that final. Roberto Ayala, an Argentine member of Lionel Scaloni’s coaching staff, has been suspended for three games and fined $30,000 for his altercation with Spaniard Dani Olmo. Argentine soccer player Thiago Almada will have to serve a one-match ban and pay 30,000 dollars. On the Spanish side, Gavi is the only player suspended, also with one match and a fine of 30,000 dollars. Suspensions must be served in the following official matches of the respective national teams.

A MILLIONAIRE FINE FOR THE AFA AND PUBLIC RESTRICTIONS

The punishments are not limited to what happened on the pitch. FIFA has imposed economic sanctions totaling 321,000 dollars on the Argentine Football Association (AFA) for different infractions registered during the World Cup, including demonstrations outside the sports field, discriminatory behavior of fans, throwing of objects and breaches related to order and security.

Among the measures is the sanction for racist, homophobic and discriminatory chants and insults registered in several matches in Argentina. FIFA has established the closure of 50% of the stands in the next official match that the Argentine national team plays at home, while a second similar sanction is suspended for one year. In addition, the AFA will have to allocate $100,000 to a comprehensive anti-discrimination plan that will have to be approved by FIFA.

The AFA has already announced that it will request the grounds of the decisions to study the corresponding appeals before the FIFA Appeal Committee. The Argentine body also plans to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as a last resort.