Argentina players banned and fined after World Cup final brawl

Three Argentina players have been banned for their part in a brawl at the end of last month’s World Cup final against Spain, but they have only been fined for displaying a Falkland Islands banner after the semi-final win over England.

Leandro Paredes has been given a 10-match ban and a $90,000 (£66,000) fine by Fifa’s disciplinary committee, while Nahuel Molina was given a seven-match suspension and fined the same amount.

Thiago Almada was given a one-match ban and a $30,000 (£22,000) fine, while from coaching staff Roberto Ayala was banned for three matches and fined the same amount. Spain’s Gavi has also been given a one-match ban and a $30,000 fine.

The Argentinian football association (AFA) has been fined $321,000 in relation to the displaying of a banner at the end of the England game. It read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” which translates as “the Falkland Islands are Argentinian”. The fine also covered breaches by Argentina supporters of Fifa’s anti-discrimination regulations at other World Cup matches.

For the discrimination offences, the AFA has been ordered to play the country’s next home match at 50% capacity, with a 50% capacity restriction at a further match suspended. Fifa said $100,000 of the fine was also suspended.

The banner was condemned by UK politicians at the time it was displayed, with Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey calling for the players who held it up to be suspended. Uefa had banned two Spain players – Rodri and Álvaro Morata – after they sang about Spain’s claims to Gibraltar after their Euro 2024 triumph.