Fifa bans Paredes and fines Argentina after World Cup final brawl
What Happened
Fifa has punished Argentina and several players after the brawl at the end of last month’s World Cup final against Spain, while also fining the Argentine football association over a Falkland Islands banner shown after the semi-final win over England. Leandro Paredes received the heaviest sanction, a 10-match ban and a $90,000 fine.
Compliance Impact
The sanctions reach beyond the players involved. Argentina must also play its next home match at 50% capacity, with a further 50% restriction suspended, and the AFA was fined $321,000, although $100,000 of that was suspended. Fifa said the banner and other conduct breached its anti-discrimination rules.
Counterpoints
The AFA punishment also covered anti-discrimination breaches by Argentina supporters at other World Cup matches, so the case was not limited to the banner alone.
The banner was politically loaded, and UK politicians had already condemned it when it was displayed, but Fifa’s action is framed as a disciplinary matter rather than a diplomatic ruling.