FIFA suspended several Argentina players and a staff member primarily for their involvement in physical altercations,assaults and unsporting behaviour, with Spain players after the final whistle of the 2026 World Cup.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time with Ferran Torres scoring the winner goal on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The match was already tense, as Argentina’s Enzo Fernández had been sent off late, and ugly scenes erupted as Spanish players and substitutes rushed onto the pitch to celebrate.
Specific suspensions and reasons
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee announced the sanctions on August 21, 2026, after investigating the incidents, with charges focused on assault and unsporting behaviour under the FIFA Disciplinary Code:
Leandro Paredes: 10-match ban + $90,000 fine. He grabbed Spain defender Eric García by the throat and pushed midfielder Gavi to the ground, thus facing three counts of assault. This ranks among the more severe FIFA World Cup-related bans.
Nahuel Molina: 7-match ban + $90,000 fine. He appeared to punch Spain midfielder Rodri in the stomach as Rodri ran on to celebrate, and is facing two counts of assault.
Thiago Almada: 1-match ban + $30,000 fine for unsporting behaviour.
Roberto Ayala (assistant coach): 3-match ban + $30,000 fine for one count of assault (involved in the melee, including an altercation involving Spain’s Dani Olmo).
Spain’s Gavi also received a 1-match ban + $30,000 fine for unsporting behaviour.
The bans apply to official national-team matches under FIFA regulations, but not club games.
Paredes’ 10-game ban effectively sidelines him from Argentina duty for a significant period given the international calendar.
Related sanctions on the Argentine FA
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) was fined a total of $321,000 for broader breaches during the tournament, including:
1. Using a sports event for non-sporting (political) demonstrations — specifically, players displaying a “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”) banner after the semi-final win over England.
2. Team misconduct.
3. Discriminatory chants/gestures by supporters.
4. Issues with order and security at matches.
Part of the fine ($100,000) must go toward anti-discrimination efforts, and some elements of the penalty (including one of two ordered home matches at 50% capacity) were suspended on probation.
These player suspensions stem directly from the post-final brawl and the physical nature of the confrontations, which FIFA treated as serious violations of fair play and disciplinary rules.
The AFA and individuals have options to request motivated decisions or appeal.
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