FIFA has imposed a significant 10-match ban on Argentina's Leandro Paredes following an incident that occurred after the World Cup final against Spain. This suspension comes as part of a broader disciplinary action against three Argentine players involved in post-match altercations.

Details of the Suspensions

Paredes' ban stems from his actions during the match, where he was seen grabbing Spain's Eric Garcia by the throat and pushing Gavi to the ground. This punishment is among the most severe handed down in World Cup history, comparable to the sanctions faced by Uruguay's Luis Suárez in 2014. Alongside Paredes, Argentina defender Nahuel Molina received a seven-match ban, while Thiago Almada was suspended for one match. FIFA also imposed fines of $90,000 on both Paredes and Molina, and $30,000 on Almada.

Impact on National Representation

The 10-match suspension effectively sidelines Paredes from national team duties for nearly a year, as the FIFA calendar includes ten matches scheduled through June 2027, which may consist solely of friendlies. In addition to player sanctions, Argentina's coach Roberto Ayala has been banned for three matches and fined $30,000. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has also faced penalties, including a $110,000 fine for various incidents during the World Cup, such as players displaying a political banner and fans engaging in discriminatory chants.

The AFA plans to appeal the sanctions and fines imposed by FIFA, with intentions to request the grounds for the rulings to pursue further action through FIFA's appeal committee and potentially the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Despite the challenges, Argentina's football federation remains focused on addressing these issues while reflecting on their World Cup journey, which earned them $34 million in prize money from FIFA.