Paredes deems ten‑match ban excessive against Gavi's one‑match penalty

Leandro Paredes, El mediocampista argentino, broke his silence after the Copa del Mundo 2026 Final, declaring “Me parece exagerada” as he received a ten‑match suspension and a $90,000 fine – a penalty he says far exceeds the one‑match ban and $30,000 fine imposed on España’s Gavi.

In July, after España defeated Argentina in the Mundial final, a heated confrontation broke out among several players. The clash dominated Futbol headlines across the continent. Paredes and Gavi were identified as two of the most involved, leading to the severe punishments handed down by the disciplinary committee.

Paredes argued that the Iberian player sparked the altercation, saying the situation was unfairly judged. He stressed that the ten‑match ban was not proportional to the single‑match sanction given to Gavi. The Argentino faced a ten‑match ban while the Spanish midfielder received only one.

Other Argentine players also faced penalties: Nahuel Molina received seven games and a $90,000 fine, Thiago Almada one match, and technical staff member Roberto Ayala three matches. These measures were imposed following the post‑final incident.

Appeal route and AFA response

Paredes announced his intention to appeal, believing the punishment excessive. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) plans to submit a formal request to FIFA’s Appeals Commission and, if necessary, take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The story was first published by MEXSPORT and listed as ‘Añadir como fuente preferida en Google’.

FIFA has accepted the AFA’s request to let the suspensions be served in ‘A’‑category friendly matches, not only in official fixtures. This adjustment could allow the Argentine side to reduce the bans during the September, October and November international windows.

Implications for Argentine players

If the appeal succeeds, the ten‑match ban could be trimmed, restoring Paredes for upcoming friendlies. Even without a reduction, the new arrangement means the sanctions will not affect competitive qualifiers.

The outcome remains pending, and the AFA will monitor the appeals process closely. All parties await the final decision that could reshape the disciplinary landscape after the Mundial final.