Leandro Paredes kicked Eric García, shoved Gavi into the turf, and walked away from the 2026 World Cup Final with a 10-game ban and a £66,500 fine. Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain. Then they lost in the disciplinary room too. Now, at least, FIFA has given them a path to actually serving those punishments.
The core problem was logistical: Argentina's bans were originally restricted to competitive fixtures only, and the next one of those isn't until the 2028 Copa América. That's an 18-month-plus wait. FIFA's Disciplinary Committee has now approved the AFA's request to allow the suspensions to run in Class A friendlies — the highest category of international friendlies — meaning the clock can actually start ticking.
Who serves what, and when
Paredes, with his 10-game ban, is the most exposed. Even with friendlies counting, he'd have four games outstanding after 2026 — likely two in March 2027 and two in June. At 32, every missed international window matters.
Nahuel Molina's seven-game ban leaves him with one remaining suspension game to serve in 2027, most likely in March. Thiago Almada (one game) and coach Roberto Ayala (three games) could both be back in their roles by early October if Argentina schedules enough fixtures before year's end — and there's room for six before December.
The AFA hasn't accepted any of this quietly. Their official statement made clear they're appealing the bans to FIFA's Appeals Committee, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport flagged as a potential next step. They want reductions, not just a more convenient serving schedule.
The wider punishment picture
The suspensions aren't even the full story. The AFA was fined £237,000 across multiple incidents at the tournament. Their next home game must be played in front of a half-capacity crowd. And all of that traces back to a single chaotic evening — the post-match scenes after the final, plus a banner reading 'The Falklands are Argentine' after the semi-final win over England, which got the federation found guilty of using a sporting event for non-sporting political demonstrations.
FIFA also held the AFA accountable for discriminatory and racist abuse from Argentina supporters in the stands.
The AFA's statement says they're waiting on the written justification before filing appeals. Until those land, nothing is settled — but for now, at least Almada and Ayala aren't frozen out until 2028.
