Fifa ban Argentina’s Leandro Paredes for 10 matches after World Cup brawl

Fifa has handed a 10-match suspension to Leandro Paredes and a seven-game ban to Nahuel Molina following a brawl after the World Cup final in New York.

The South American pair faced intense scrutiny for their aggressive reactions after their national side suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Spain.

Global football’s governing body confirmed these severe punishments as part of a sweeping disciplinary review into the chaotic post-match scenes.

Further player sanctions issued

Alongside the lengthy suspensions for the two senior internationals, one-match bans were distributed to Argentina’s Thiago Almada and Spain’s Pablo Martin Paez Gavira.

The disciplinary action extends beyond individual players to heavily penalise the national federation itself.

The Argentine Football Association has been ordered to pay a $121,000 fine relating to several severe breaches during the latter stages of the tournament.

Federation fined over banner and crowd abuse

This significant financial penalty was primarily levied after squad members displayed a controversial Falklands banner following their semi-final victory against England.

Furthermore, the official fine addresses documented instances of discrimination and racist abuse perpetrated by the nation’s supporters during the competition.

The prolonged absence of the experienced midfield enforcer and his defensive compatriot will severely impact the national team in their upcoming international fixtures.