Ten Games and Out: FIFA Drops the Hammer on Paredes After World Cup Final Chaos

FIFA has delivered a heavy blow to Argentina's midfield, banning Leandro Paredes for 10 international matches for his role in the clashes with Spanish players that erupted after the World Cup 2026 final. According to BBC Sport, the governing body's disciplinary committee reached its decision after reviewing video footage, match officials' reports and written submissions from both federations. Paredes was found to have been a central figure in the post-match confrontation, which tarnished the closing moments of football's showpiece occasion. The punishment is among the most severe ever handed down for on-field misconduct at a World Cup and will keep the 32-year-old out of Argentina colours for the foreseeable future. With the national team's calendar now dominated by friendlies ahead of the next competitive cycle, the suspension could stretch deep into 2027 before Paredes is eligible to pull on the famous sky blue and white stripes again. For a player whose career has oscillated between elegance and explosiveness, the sanction carries a sense of inevitability. Paredes, a veteran of Argentina's 2022 triumph in Qatar, has previous when it comes to flashpoints on the biggest stage — most famously smashing a ball into the Dutch dugout during a stormy quarter-final against the Netherlands. This time, FIFA's patience ran out. The disciplinary panel is understood to have taken a dim view of footage showing Paredes at the heart of the pushing and shoving that followed the final whistle, as raw emotion spilled over between the two squads. Images circulated widely on social media in the hours after the match, ramping up pressure on football's authorities to act decisively. FIFA has repeatedly stressed its commitment to protecting the integrity and image of the game, and this verdict sends an unmistakable message that even the sport's biggest names are not beyond reach when the line is crossed. The Argentine federation is expected to study the full written reasons before deciding whether to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, though the evidence against Paredes is understood to be extensive. The player himself has yet to comment publicly. Questions will now be asked about how Argentina rebuild their midfield engine room without one of their most experienced operators, while Spain's camp awaits word on whether any of their players will also face sanction as FIFA's review continues. At 32, and with international windows increasingly scarce, this ban may ultimately prove to be Paredes' final act on the World Cup stage — a bitter footnote to a decorated international career. Source: BBC Sport