The disciplinary committee announced the sanctions on Friday, targeting multiple players involved in the unsavoury full-time scenes after Spain secured a 1-0 extra-time victory in last month’s fixture.
Player Bans and Disciplinary Fines Imposed by FIFA
Midfielder Leandro Paredes received the heaviest punishment from the disciplinary committee.
Defender Nahuel Molina received a seven-match suspension alongside an identical 90,000 US dollar fine. According to match reports, Molina struck Spain midfielder Rodri in the stomach while running onto the pitch during post-match celebrations.
Additional sanctions affected other members of the South American squad and their opponents. Attacking midfielder Thiago Almada received a one-match ban and a 30,000 US dollar fine for unsporting behavior, while team official Roberto Ayala was suspended for three matches and fined 30,000 US dollars for one count of assault, according to official findings. Spain’s Gavi emerged as the sole player sanctioned from his squad, picking up a one-match ban and a 30,000 US dollar fine for unsporting behavior.
Argentine Football Association Sanctions Over Banner and Crowd Behavior
Beyond the player suspensions, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) faces financial penalties and stadium restrictions. According to official disclosures, the federation was fined a total of 321,000 US dollars in relation to fan behavior, discriminatory incidents, and political messaging.
A portion of the fine stemmed from a political banner displayed during the tournament.
FIFA stated that the federation fine also covered breaches of anti-discrimination regulations at other World Cup matches. For these discrimination infractions, the AFA must play its next home match at 50% stadium capacity, while a second 50% capacity restriction at another match remains suspended under a probationary period. Furthermore, FIFA allocated 100,000 US dollars of the AFA fine toward a dedicated plan to combat discrimination, with an additional 100,000 US dollars suspended.
Did you know? FIFA disciplinary bans for international matches do not carry over to domestic club competitions, meaning sanctioned players like Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina remain eligible to play for their club teams while serving their international suspensions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the player bans apply to club matches?
No. According to FIFA’s official statement, the respective suspensions apply to international matches only and do not carry over to club level.
What triggered the fine against the Argentine Football Association?
The AFA fine covers multiple infractions, including displaying a Falkland Islands banner after the semi-final against England, breaches of anti-discrimination regulations, and stadium security issues.
Can the disciplinary decisions be appealed?
Yes. According to FIFA, the parties notified of the disciplinary committee’s decisions have ten days to request a motivated decision, and all rulings remain subject to appeal.
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