Paredes Handed 10-Match Ban as FIFA Cracks Down Hard on World Cup Final Brawl

FIFA's disciplinary committee has delivered its verdict on the stormy aftermath of the World Cup 2026 final, handing Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes a 10-match international ban and a $90,000 (£66,000) fine for his role in the brawl that erupted against Spain. The punishment, first reported by the Guardian, makes Paredes the biggest individual casualty of the chaotic scenes that unfolded at the end of last month's showpiece. Teammate Nahuel Molina received a seven-match suspension along with an identical fine, while Thiago Almada and Spain's Gavi were also suspended for their involvement in the confrontation that marred the final whistle. The severity of the sanctions underscores FIFA's determination to draw a line under one of the most unsavoury finales in World Cup history. Seventeen matches' worth of bans between Paredes and Molina alone represents a significant statement from football's governing body. The brawl, however, was not the only matter on the disciplinary docket. Argentina were also hit with a $321,000 fine after players displayed a Falkland Islands banner following their semi-final victory over England — a politically charged gesture that stirred considerable controversy. Notably, no individual suspensions were issued over the banner, with FIFA opting instead for a purely financial penalty against the Argentine federation. The contrast between the two punishments is certain to fuel debate. Players involved in the on-pitch confrontation face lengthy spells away from international football, while the banner episode — widely criticised as provocative — was settled with a fine alone. For Paredes, the 10-match ban is a potentially defining sanction at this stage of his international career. Depending on the fixture calendar, he could be sidelined through the entirety of Argentina's next competitive window and well beyond. Molina's seven-match suspension similarly rules the defender out of significant international action, while the bans handed to Almada and Gavi deprive both nations of key squad members at crucial stages of their development. The rulings bring a formal close to a turbulent post-final period, but questions will linger over both the events themselves and FIFA's response. Argentina's players must now regroup without several of their number, while Spain will count the cost of losing Gavi for the foreseeable future. Whether the punishments succeed in deterring similar scenes at future tournaments remains to be seen — but the message from FIFA's headquarters is unmistakably clear: the biggest stage in football must not be hijacked by the game's ugliest instincts.