Paredes Banned from International Competition for Ten Matches After World Cup Final Melee

FIFA has handed Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes a 10-match ban after his involvement in the post-match brawl following the World Cup final. The incident occurred at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Spain edged Argentina 1-0 in extra time.

The trouble started when Paredes got into physical confrontations with multiple Spanish players, including Gavi, Rodri, and Dani Olmo. The most serious incident involved Eric Garcia, whom Paredes grabbed by the throat, crossing a line from competitive frustration to assault according to FIFA's Disciplinary Code Article 14.

Paredes also threw Gavi to the ground during the melee. If applied uniformly, the article's framework suggests that Argentine defender Nahuel Molina and assistant coach Roberto Ayala could face multi-match bans for their roles in the post-match confrontations.