Leandro Paredes calls his suspension after the 2026 World Cup final disproportionate
Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes has raised his voice against the recent FIFA decision, which imposed a ten-match suspension on him following the altercations recorded at the end of the 2026 World Cup final, where Argentina fell to Spain. The current Boca Juniors player considers the punishment excessive and lacking fairness compared to other penalties applied to his colleagues.
After his team’s victory against Lanús in the Clausura Tournament, the midfielder expressed his frustration by contrasting his situation with that of the Spaniard Gavi, who only received a one-match suspension for his involvement in the same incident.
I think it’s exaggerated. The strange thing is that Gavi was given a date and he’s the one who punches me in the chest.
Leandro Paredes
Details of the sanctions and the appeal process
In addition to the suspension, Paredes will have to face a financial fine of 90,000 dollars. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is already working on the legal strategy to reduce these penalties, trusting that the appeal process before the FIFA Appeal Committee will achieve a more favorable result for the footballer.
The disciplinary landscape after the final was complex and affected several members of the Argentine national team:
- Nahuel Molina: 7-match suspension and a $90,000 fine.
- Thiago Almada: 1-match suspension.
- Roberto Ayala (coaching staff): 3-match suspension.
- Gavi (Spain): 1-match suspension and a $30,000 fine.
The AFA is awaiting the official grounds from FIFA to proceed with legal appeals. In the event that the entity’s response is not satisfactory, the final instance they could turn to is the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
A respite in the fulfillment of sentences
As a palliative measure, FIFA has agreed to a key request submitted by the AFA: sanctioned footballers will be able to serve their suspensions during category A international friendly matches. This decision is fundamental for Argentina, as it will allow players to begin counting down their dates during the matches scheduled for September, October, and November 2026, thus minimizing the negative impact on future official competitions.
