Paredes banned for 10 games after World Cup final fracas, Argentina fined

Argentina's Leandro Paredes received a 10-match suspension for his part in a brawl after his team lost to Spain in the World ​Cup final while teammate Nahuel Molina was suspended for seven ‌games, FIFA announced today (21 August).

A brief scuffle erupted at the final whistle when Argentina midfielder Paredes shoved Spain's Gavi to the ground as the European champions' ​substitutes rushed onto the pitch to celebrate.

Paredes faced three assault counts ​while Molina faced two.

Both players were also fined $90,000 each.

Argentina's ⁠Thiago Almada and Spain's Gavi faced one count each of ​unsporting behaviour, while Argentina's assistant coach Roberto Ayala faced one assault count.

While ​Almada and Gavi received one-match suspensions, Ayala, who had apologised for his part in the altercation, was banned for three games, with all three fined $30,000.

The Argentinian Football Association (AFA) ​were fined a total of $321,000 for multiple disciplinary breaches during the ​World Cup, including the display by some players of a banner declaring "Las Malvinas Son ‌Argentinas" ("The ⁠Falklands are Argentine") following their semi-final win over England.

The AFA was also ordered to play Argentina's next two home matches with spectators limited to 50% of capacity.

FIFA had said using a sports event for demonstrations ​of a non-sporting ​nature was a ⁠breach of the disciplinary code.

The fines were levied for breaches of the disciplinary code including use of ​a sports event for non-sporting demonstrations, team misconduct, and ​discriminatory ⁠chants and gestures by fans.

"The FIFA Disciplinary Committee further determined that $100,000 of the $321,000 must be invested in a plan to combat discrimination," it said.

"The ⁠implementation ​of part of the sanction (one of the ​two matches and $100,000 of the fine) is suspended, with a probationary period to apply."

The decisions ​remain subject to appeal.