Argentina receives FIFA boost for suspended players
Argentina have received a major boost after FIFA agreed to let their suspended stars serve their punishments during friendly matches, reports BritPanorama.
Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada were sanctioned following the ugly scenes that erupted after Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Assistant coach Roberto Ayala was also punished for his involvement in the post-match confrontation.
Paredes received the most severe penalty after grabbing Spain defender Eric Garcia by the neck before punching Gavi in the face and shoving the midfielder to the ground. The 32-year-old was handed a 10-match international suspension and a $90,000 fine by FIFA, equivalent to approximately £65,000.
Molina was banned for seven matches after striking Spain captain Rodri in the torso as he ran past him, which prompted an angry response from the Manchester City midfielder. Almada and Gavi were each suspended for one match, while Ayala received a three-game ban.
Argentina have successfully asked FIFA to allow Class A friendlies to count towards the suspensions. This decision provides the South American nation with a route to accelerate the return of their banned players by arranging a series of non-competitive fixtures.
“The AFA has formally requested FIFA to allow the sanctions imposed on its players during the 2026 World Cup final, and on the association itself, to be served in Class A friendly matches and/or official matches, whichever comes first,” an Argentine Football Association statement said. FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee deemed the request approved in accordance with current regulations.
Despite this development, the AFA is awaiting the written justification for these decisions in order to file the corresponding appeals with FIFA’s Appeals Committee, with the potential of escalating to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if necessary. Argentina are thus still planning to challenge the punishments despite securing permission for friendlies to count.
The ruling is particularly significant for Paredes, who otherwise faced a lengthy absence from international football. Argentina, already guaranteed a place at the next World Cup as one of the tournament’s co-hosts, faces limited competitive action before the 2028 Copa America.
Following their previous World Cup victory, Argentina played four friendlies before embarking on their next competitive campaign, indicating that a similar schedule could substantially reduce the current bans. Additionally, Argentina faced sanctions for multiple incidents throughout the tournament, including the display of a banner claiming sovereignty over the Falkland Islands after their semi-final victory against England.
FIFA imposed fines totalling $321,000 and ordered Argentina to play their next two home matches with the stadium capacity reduced to 50 percent. However, some aspects of the punishment, including one of the two partial stadium closures and $100,000 of the financial penalty, were suspended.
With crucial matches ahead, the fate of Argentina’s banished stars will be closely watched, highlighting the intertwined nature of sport and governance — how one misstep can reverberate through international football landscapes.
