FIFA punishes Argentina heavily after World Cup final incidents

FIFA has delivered a harsh penalty to several members of the Argentine and Spanish teams following disturbances that occurred after the World Cup final. Leandro Paredes will serve a 10-match suspension, and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) faces a $321,000 fine. Additionally, the AFA must host its next two home matches with only 50% of stadium capacity filled.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has issued suspensions of ten matches to Leandro Paredes, seven to Nahuel Molina, one to Thiago Almada, three to Roberto Ayala, and one to Gavi for their involvement in altercations after the World Cup final, which Spain won 1-0 against Argentina.

The AFA has been fined a total of $321,000, stemming from various articles of the FIFA Disciplinary Code related to incidents during the tournament. This includes fines for displaying a banner claiming the Falkland Islands as Argentine, improper conduct by the team, discriminatory chants and gestures by fans, and violations of order and security regulations.

Specifically, Paredes and Almada engaged in unsportsmanlike conduct with Spain's Eric García. Molina reportedly punched Rodri Hernández while he was celebrating the title, and Ayala also struck Dani Olmo. These players must serve their suspensions in upcoming national team matches.