Leandro Paredes describes his suspension after the World Cup final as disproportionate
Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes has raised his voice regarding the recent sanction imposed by FIFA following the incidents recorded in the 2026 World Cup final, where Argentina fell to Spain. The player, who currently defends the colors of Boca Juniors, considers the ten-match suspension penalty to be excessive compared to other disciplinary measures taken by the world football governing body.
After Boca Juniors’ victory over Lanús on the seventh matchday of the Argentine Clausura Tournament, Paredes expressed his discontent, pointing directly to the disparity in the penalties applied to those involved in the final altercation.
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
In addition to the ten-match sports ban, the footballer was sanctioned with a financial fine of 90,000 dollars. Given this scenario, the player maintains hope that the Argentine Football Association (AFA) will manage to reduce the punishment through the corresponding appeal instances.
Details of sanctions and the appeals process
FIFA determined various sanctions following the clashes that occurred at the end of the match that crowned Spain as world champion. Among the disciplinary measures, the following stand out:
- Nahuel Molina: Seven-match suspension and a $90,000 fine.
- Thiago Almada: One-match suspension.
- Roberto Ayala: Three-match suspension for his involvement as part of the coaching staff.
- Gavi: One-match suspension and a $30,000 fine.
The AFA is waiting to receive the legal grounds for these resolutions in order to formalize its appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee. In the event of not obtaining a favorable response, the Argentine entity does not rule out going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to exhaust all possible instances.
As a palliative measure, FIFA has allowed sanctioned players to serve part of their suspensions in category A international friendly matches. This represents a relief for the Argentine national team, which has commitments scheduled for the end of 2026, allowing the affected footballers to resume their official activity sooner.
