Argentina slapped with hefty fines after World Cup final brawl; Paredes suspended for 10 matches
A brief altercation broke out at the final whistle after Paredes shoved Spain midfielder Gavi to the ground
A brief altercation broke out at the final whistle after Paredes shoved Spain midfielder Gavi to the ground
A brief altercation broke out at the final whistle after Paredes shoved Spain midfielder Gavi to the ground
Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes has been handed a 10-match suspension for his role in a post-match brawl after his team's World Cup final defeat to Spain, FIFA announced on Friday.
Teammate Nahuel Molina was suspended for seven matches, with both players also fined $90,000 each.
A brief altercation broke out at the final whistle after Paredes shoved Spain midfielder Gavi to the ground as members of the European champions' substitutes' bench rushed onto the pitch to celebrate their victory.
Paredes was charged with three counts of assault, while Molina faced two. Both were found guilty and handed lengthy suspensions.
Argentina's Thiago Almada and Spain's Gavi faced one count each of unsporting behaviour, while Argentina's assistant coach Roberto Ayala faced one assault count.
While Almada and Gavi received one-match suspensions, Ayala, who had apologised for his part in the altercation, was banned for three games, with all three fined $30,000.
The Argentinian Football Association (AFA) were fined a total of $3,21,000 for multiple disciplinary breaches during the World Cup, including the display by some players of a banner declaring "Las Malvinas Son Argentinas" ("The Falklands are Argentine") following their semi-final win over England.
The AFA was also ordered to play Argentina's next two home matches with spectators limited to 50 per cent of capacity.
FIFA had said using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature was a breach of the disciplinary code. The fines were levied for breaches of the disciplinary code including use of a sports event for non-sporting demonstrations, team misconduct, and discriminatory chants and gestures by fans.
"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.