Argentina’s Paredes banned for 10 games after World Cup final fracas

Argentina's Leandro Paredes has been handed a 10-match suspension for his part in a brawl after his team’s defeat to Spain in the World Cup final, while teammate Nahuel Molina was banned for seven games, FIFA announced on Friday.

At the final whistle, Argentina midfielder Paredes was seen shoving Spain's Gavi to the ground, staging the brawl. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni had to intervene to physically separate the players and calm them down.

Paredes charged for three assault counts while Molina faced two. Both players were also fined $90,000 each.

Spain’s Gavi and Argentina’s Thiago Almada faced one count each of unsporting behaviour, while the assistant coach of Scaloni, Roberto Ayala, faced one assault count.

Almada and Gavi also received a one-match ban each; Ayala, who had apologised for his part in the altercation, was suspended for three games, with all three fined $30,000.

A fine of $321,000 was imposed on the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) for multiple disciplinary breaches during the World Cup, including the showing of a banner declaring "Las Malvinas Son Argentinas" ("The Falklands are Argentine") by some players following their semi-final win over England.

The AFA was also ordered to play Argentina's next two home games with spectators limited to 50% of capacity.

FIFA had said using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature was a breach of the disciplinary code.

According to FIFA, the fines were imposed for breaches of the disciplinary code including use of a sports event for non-sporting demonstrations, discriminatory chants and gestures by fans and team misconduct.

"The FIFA Disciplinary Committee further determined that $100,000 of the $321,000 must be invested in a plan to combat discrimination," it said.

"The implementation of part of the sanction (one of the two matches and $100,000 of the fine) is suspended, with a probationary period to apply."

The decisions remain subject to appeal.