FIFA has banned three Argentina players, including midfielder Leandro Paredes, who received a 10-match suspension for striking Spain players following their defeat in the World Cup final.
Paredes, who grabbed Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat and pushed Gavi to the ground, was handed one of the most severe FIFA sanctions imposed on a player in World Cup history, comparable to the ban given to Uruguay forward Luis Suárez in 2014.
Argentina defender Nahuel Molina was handed a seven-match suspension, while Thiago Almada received a one-match ban.
FIFA also fined Paredes and Molina $90,000 each, while Almada was fined $30,000.
According to the football governing body, the suspension effectively rules Paredes out of the Argentina national team for a year, as the FIFA calendar currently includes 10 international matches for the team through June 2027.
The matches could all be friendlies, as Argentina currently have no competitive fixtures scheduled during the period.
Spain midfielder Gavi was also handed a one-match suspension, which he will serve in Spain’s Nations League match against England at Wembley on September 26.
Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala was handed a three-match suspension and fined $30,000.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) was fined a total of $321,000 for multiple disciplinary breaches during the World Cup.
The sanctions followed a series of incidents, including players displaying a political banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”) after Argentina’s semi-final victory over England.
FIFA said the banner amounted to the use of a sporting event for a non-sporting demonstration, which breaches its disciplinary code. The AFA was also sanctioned over team misconduct and discriminatory chants and gestures by supporters.
The association was further ordered to play its next two home matches with stadium capacity restricted to 50 per cent.
FIFA said $100,000 of the $321,000 fine must be invested in a programme aimed at combating discrimination.
However, the implementation of part of the sanction, including one of the two home-match restrictions and $100,000 of the fine, has been suspended subject to a probationary period.
The decisions remain subject to appeal, allowing the affected players, coach and the Argentine Football Association to challenge the sanctions.