FIFA delivers verdict on Argentina's request to reduce bans after World Cup final mayhem

FIFA has approved a request to reduce Argentina's punishment for their disgraceful conduct at the World Cup Final. Midfielder Leandro Paredes received a huge 10-game ban for his post-match behavior, which included kicking out at Eric Garcia and shoving Gavi to the ground as champions Spain celebrated their 1-0 victory after extra time.

Paredes, 32, was also handed a £66,500 ($90,000) fine. Teammates Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada, along with coach Roberto Ayala, also received bans and fines.

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Molina was hit with a seven-match suspension, while Almada and Ayala are banned for one and three games, respectively. Initially, their suspensions were set to apply only to competitive matches and not friendlies.

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That presented a problem because Argentina won't play a competitive match until the 2028 Copa América. However, FIFA has approved the Argentine FA's (AFA) request to allow the bans to be served in Class A friendlies, as per The Mirror.

Argentina currently have no fixtures whatsoever scheduled, but there is room for six before the end of the year. European teams, for example, will play four matches during the newly merged September and October international break before playing another two games in the November window.

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That means Almada and Ayala could return to their respective positions by early October. Molina, meanwhile, would have one remaining suspension game to serve in 2027, most likely in March. As for Paredes, he'd face four outstanding matches - potentially two in March and two in June.

However, the AFA are still pursuing a reduction in the length of their bans. The federation was also hit with a £237,000 (around $320,750) fine stemming from multiple incidents at the World Cup and must host their next home fixture in a stadium operating at 50 percent capacity.

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Argentina's players unveiled a banner reading 'The Falklands are Argentine' following their 2-1 semi-final victory over England. The display resulted in the AFA being found guilty of 'using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature.'

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The governing body also held the federation accountable for discrimination and racist abuse by Argentina's supporters. In an official statement on Thursday, the AFA declared: "The Argentine Football Association (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.

"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."

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