Argentina have secured approval from FIFA to allow players suspended following a post-match brawl after the World Cup final defeat by Spain to serve their match bans during upcoming international friendly matches.
The ruling by world football's governing body follows a formal request submitted by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) after three international players and an assistant coach received heavy sanctions over unsavoury scenes at full time of the 1-0 final loss.
Midfielder Leandro Paredes received the longest suspension, being handed a 10-match ban and a £65,000 fine by FIFA's Disciplinary Committee. The 32-year-old was sanctioned after grabbing Spain defender Eric Garcia by the neck, punching Spanish midfielder Gavi in the face, and pushing him to the ground.
Argentina defender Nahuel Molina received a seven-match ban for hitting Spain captain Rodri in the torso as he ran past, prompting the midfielder to square up to his rival. Midfielder Thiago Almada and Spain's Gavi were each handed one-match bans, while Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala was also sanctioned.
Player bans and FIFA ruling
The Argentine Football Association confirmed it had formally requested that FIFA permit all player and association sanctions stemming from the 2026 World Cup final to be served in Class A friendly matches or official fixtures, whichever comes first. Class A friendlies are senior international matches recognized by FIFA that count towards official team records and world rankings.
In an official statement detailing the outcome, the AFA stated:
"The AFA has formally requested FIFA to allow the sanctions imposed on its players during the 2026 World Cup final, and on the association itself, to be served in Class A friendly matches and/or official matches, whichever comes first,"
The statement continued:
"Based on the AFA's submission, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee has deemed the request approved in accordance with current regulations. Nevertheless, the AFA, in defence of its rights and those of its players, is awaiting the written justification for the decisions in order to file the corresponding appeals with FIFA's Appeals Committee, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) potentially as the final recourse."
The Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, acts as the independent international tribunal for major sporting legal disputes.
International fixture schedule and tactical impact
The ruling enables Argentina to schedule multiple non-competitive international friendlies during upcoming FIFA international windows to clear player suspensions before major tournament games. Following their 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar, the South American nation played four friendly matches before competing in their next official competitive fixture.
Argentina are already assured of qualification for the next World Cup as one of the co-hosts, meaning their next scheduled competitive action could be the Copa America in 2028. The FIFA decision provides a vital route back for Paredes, who faced a lengthy wait to feature again in competitive international football without the option to serve his 10-match suspension during exhibition games.
Falkland Islands banner sanctions
The disciplinary decision follows a separate ruling last week in which Argentina escaped major competitive punishment over a political banner displayed following their 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory over England. FIFA avoided player suspensions despite its strict prohibition on political flags and statements at official matches.
Instead, FIFA imposed a two-match partial stadium closure on Argentina, reducing crowd capacity at their next two home fixtures to 50 per cent, though one match of the stadium penalty is suspended. The AFA was also hit with £235,000 in fines, of which £73,000 is suspended. The controversial banner, which read "The Falkland Islands are Argentine" in Spanish, was displayed in the crowd before being handed down to players on the pitch.
Several prominent squad members celebrated with the banner after the final whistle against England, including former Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero, Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, and former Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso. Team captain Lionel Messi was also seen dancing alongside the sign.
The Falkland Islands remain a sensitive geopolitical territory between Britain and Argentina following the 1982 Falklands War, which began when Argentine forces invaded the South Atlantic archipelago. British armed forces retook the islands during a conflict in which 255 British military personnel were killed among 907 total fatalities.
British navigators first landed on the uninhabited islands in 1690 and claimed them for the British Crown in 1765. The United Kingdom has maintained a continuous permanent presence on the islands since 1833, establishing control 47 years before Argentina became a fully unified state following its 1816 declaration of independence from Spain. In a 2013 referendum, 99.8 per cent of Falkland Islands voters chose to remain a British Overseas Territory.
