Leandro Paredes grabbed a man by the throat seconds after losing a World Cup final. FIFA has responded with a 10-match ban — the kind of punishment that puts him in the same conversation as Luis Suarez's 2014 biting incident. That's not great company to keep.
The Roma midfielder grabbed Spain's Eric Garcia by the throat and shoved Gavi to the ground in the chaotic scenes that followed Argentina's defeat. The ban effectively removes him from the national team for roughly a year — every game on the FIFA calendar through June 2027, which, to be fair, currently consists entirely of friendlies. No competitive fixtures scheduled. He'll miss ten matches that won't define anyone's legacy, but the humiliation is real enough.
Argentina's bill keeps growing
Paredes isn't the only one paying. Defender Nahuel Molina was handed a seven-game ban and fined €76,000 alongside Paredes. Thiago Almada got one game and a €25,000 fine. Coach Roberto Ayala — who should arguably have done more to cool things down — received a three-game ban and another €25,000 fine.
The Argentina federation itself was fined €94,000. That covers a range of sins beyond the final-day brawl: a political banner referencing the Falkland Islands after the semifinal win over England, and discriminatory chanting by fans. FIFA also ordered the federation to spend €85,500 on anti-racism projects. For context, Argentina collected €29 million in World Cup prize money. The fines are symbolic at that scale — but the sporting sanctions are not.
Spain's Gavi picked up a one-game ban of his own, which lands him on the sideline for the Nations League match against England at Wembley on September 26. That's a genuine consequence — England away in a competitive fixture is not a game you want to miss suspended.
Appeals are coming, just don't expect much to change
Argentina can appeal to FIFA and then to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if needed. Given the severity of Paredes' sanction and the evidence on film, it's hard to see where a compelling case lives. He grabbed a man by the throat. It's on video. Multiple angles.
- Paredes: 10-match ban, €76,000 fine
- Molina: 7-match ban, €76,000 fine
- Almada: 1-match ban, €25,000 fine
- Ayala (coach): 3-match ban, €25,000 fine
- Argentina federation: €94,000 fine + €85,500 directed to anti-racism projects
- Gavi (Spain): 1-match ban
The last time FIFA came down this hard on a World Cup incident, Suarez was banned from all football for four months and eight more Uruguay games for biting Chiellini in Brazil. Paredes' punishment sits in that bracket — extraordinary, and a reminder that the final whistle doesn't end FIFA's jurisdiction.
