FIFA allows Argentina trio to serve World Cup final bans in friendlies
Argentina have received a significant boost from FIFA, with the governing body agreeing to let Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada serve their World Cup final suspensions during international friendlies rather than exclusively in competitive fixtures.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed on Thursday, August 27, that FIFA's Disciplinary Committee had approved its formal request to have the bans count towards Category A friendlies or official CONMEBOL matches, whichever comes first.
The suspensions stem from ugly scenes that followed Argentina's 1-0 extra time defeat to Spain in the World Cup final in July, with tensions boiling over after Enzo Fernandez was sent off late in regulation time and Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute.
Paredes received the harshest punishment of the group, a 10 match international ban and a fine of $90,000, for grabbing Spain's Eric Garcia by the neck during the post match confrontation. Molina was hit with a seven match suspension and an identical fine following a clash with Rodri, while Almada was banned for one match and fined $30,000.
Assistant coach Roberto Ayala also received a three match touchline ban and a $30,000 fine, while Spain's Gavi was separately handed a one match suspension of his own for his role in the incident.
Without Thursday's ruling, the bans threatened to sideline several key Argentina players across multiple international windows given the sport's limited fixture calendar, with the earliest competitive opportunities to clear the suspensions not arriving until CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying or the 2028 Copa America.
Under the new arrangement, Argentina can schedule up to four friendlies during the extended September and October international window, along with two further fixtures in November, giving Almada, Molina and Ayala a realistic path to clearing their bans before competitive action resumes.
Paredes is likely to face a brief remaining absence even after the concession.
FIFA separately fined the Argentine federation $321,000 over a series of violations during the tournament, including crowd related incidents, discriminatory behaviour and the display of a political banner referencing the Falkland Islands.
Argentina were also ordered to restrict attendance at their next two home matches to 50 percent capacity, though one of those restrictions has since been suspended.
The federation has made clear it does not intend to accept the sanctions as final.
"The Argentine Football Association, in defence of its rights and the rights of its players, is awaiting the grounds of the decisions in order to submit the appropriate appeals before FIFA's Appeal Committee, while considering the Court of Arbitration for Sport a possible last resort," the AFA said in its statement.
AFA legal counsel Andres Paton Uriz had already signalled the federation's intentions in comments last week.
"We consider the sanctions to be excessive, and we will seek to reduce them," he told DSports radio.
Paredes himself has publicly questioned the fairness of his punishment, suggesting Argentina were treated more harshly than Spain for the same incident.
"I get 10 games ban and $90,000 after I defended myself," he said, adding that FIFA appeared more focused on his reaction than on what had provoked it.
The disciplinary process followed a formal investigation launched in July, with Paredes facing multiple assault related charges while Molina and Ayala were investigated over their own roles in the confrontation, and Almada and Gavi faced separate charges of unsporting conduct.