Leandro Paredes, the midfielder and captain of Boca Juniors, has called the severe FIFA sanction imposed on him after the 2026 World Cup final excessive. World football's governing body fined the Argentine Football Association (AFA) $321,000 and suspended several squad members following the match against Spain.
The harshest punishment was handed to Paredes, with a ten-match suspension and a personal fine of $90,000. Defender Nahuel Molina received a seven-game ban and an identical fine, while midfielder Thiago Almada was sanctioned with one match and $30,000. Assistant coach Roberto Ayala was also suspended for three matches and fined $30,000.
Leandro Paredes broke his silence this week and openly questioned the governing body's decision. "It seems exaggerated, because the strange thing is that Gavi was given one match and he's the one who punched me in the chest," the player stated. His argument centers on the disparity in punishments, as the Spanish midfielder only received a one-match suspension for the incident. Paredes added, "I think it can be reduced because, for me, it's excessive. There are people working on that and hopefully it can be done."
The AFA, presided over by Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia, has already begun procedures to appeal the sanctions and seek a reduction. Andrés Paton Urich, the association's Legal Manager, is leading the process which involves submitting evidence to FIFA's Appeals Commission. This body based in Zurich has the power to validate or modify the initial sanctions. If the commission upholds the punishments, the AFA will consider taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
A key aspect resolved this week was the setting for serving the suspensions. FIFA formally accepted a request from the AFA for the players to serve their bans in friendly matches. Originally, the sanctions referred specifically to official matches. This decision is key for the planning of the Argentina national team, which currently leads its World Cup qualifying group with 9 points from three wins in three games.
The current competitive context shows a solid team. Argentina has a record of 8 goals scored and only 1 conceded, giving them a +7 goal difference. Their recent form in the last five matches is four wins and one loss (LWWWW), the most recent being the July 19 final against Spain, which ended 1-0. This performance can be analyzed in depth in our stats section.
The legal path is underway and the focus is now on preparing the appeal. The AFA's strategy will be based on arguing the disproportionality of the penalties, especially in Paredes's case, and presenting evidence of the incident during the final. Meanwhile, football activity continues. Paredes, for instance, just played a match with Boca Juniors, where his team beat Lanús 1-0 at La Bombonera, with Carlos Palacios and Williams Alarcón on the bench.
The appeal process has no defined timeline but is expected to progress in the coming weeks. The final resolution will affect the availability of key players for Argentina's upcoming commitments. Fans can follow the squad composition and availability in our squad section. The coaching staff's priority will be maintaining focus on the pitch, capitalizing on the good form in the qualifiers, while this disciplinary matter is resolved in the offices.
