Argentina players, staff banned for combined 21 games after World Cup final brawl
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- FIFA has imposed a total of 21-match bans on Argentina’s players and staff following a mass altercation after their World Cup final loss to Spain, with midfielder Leandro Paredes receiving the longest suspension of 10 games.
- Defender Nahuel Molina was banned for seven matches and fined $90,000 for striking a Spanish player, while midfielder Thiago Almada and official Roberto Ayala received shorter bans and fines for unsporting behavior and assault, respectively.
- Spain’s Gavi was the only player from the winning team sanctioned, receiving a one-match ban and $30,000 fine for unsporting conduct during the incident.
- The Argentine Football Association was fined $310,000 and ordered to play its next home match with a 50% stadium capacity due to fan misconduct, including discriminatory and racist abuse, with part of the fine allocated to anti-discrimination initiatives.
- The sanctions apply only to international matches and do not affect club play, and all parties have ten days to appeal FIFA’s disciplinary decisions.
