Leandro Paredes has strongly criticized the ten-match ban handed to him by FIFA for his involvement in the post-match brawl after the 2026 World Cup final. The Argentine midfielder directly accused Spanish player Pablo Páez Gavira, 'Gavi', of being the one who punched him in the chest during the widespread altercation.
The Argentina national team, currently top of their qualifying group with 9 points from three wins, lost that decisive match 1-0 to Spain on July 19. Ferran's extra-time goal sealed the Iberian victory in New York, a result that is part of La Albiceleste's recent record of four wins and just one loss in their last five international fixtures.
Paredes voiced his displeasure after his club Boca Juniors' win over Lanús in the seventh round of the Torneo Clausura. "It seems exaggerated to me," the player said of the suspension. "The strange thing is that Gavi was given one (match) and he is the one who hits me in the chest." In addition to the ten-match ban, FIFA fined him $90,000.
The player contrasted his punishment with Gavi's, who received only a one-match suspension and a $30,000 fine. Paredes believes the disparity does not match what happened on the field. The Argentine Football Association is already preparing an appeal to try to reduce the sanctions imposed on several of its members, pending the full reasoning of FIFA's resolutions.
The incidents involved several players and a member of Lionel Scaloni's staff. Nahuel Molina, who punched Rodri Hernández in the torso, was suspended for seven matches and also fined $90,000. Thiago Almada, for unsporting conduct with Eric García, received a one-match ban.
Roberto Ayala, a member of the coaching staff, was punished with three matches for punching Dani Olmo. Gavi intervened to defend his teammate Eric García and ended up being knocked down by Argentine players, according to the account of events. FIFA accepted an AFA request for the suspensions to be served in international 'Category A' friendly matches, allowing them to begin serving their bans in the national team's upcoming commitments.
"Now we have to appeal, see if we can reduce the sanction and that's it." Paredes stated. The AFA will use the arguments regarding the disparity in punishments as a central part of its defense. If the appeal to FIFA is unsuccessful, the Court of Arbitration for Sport looms as the last possible resort.
Argentina has two international matches scheduled before the end of 2026, one between September and October and another in November. The team maintains a solid performance in qualifying, with 8 goals scored and only one conceded. All squad information is available on our squad page.
The legal controversy adds to the sporting setback of the final, an episode the Argentina national team seeks to overcome as it continues its path in the qualifiers. The team's overall performance, included in our stats, remains positive despite the stumble in the most important match.
