Argentina Escalates World Cup Final Sanctions Fight to CAS

​The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has officially announced it is taking its legal battle to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following FIFA’s decision to only partially uphold its appeal regarding the chaotic fallout from the 2026 World Cup final.

​The Dispute and Disciplinary Rulings

​The controversy stems from the heated post-match scenes at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026, where Spain secured a narrow 1-0 victory to claim the World Cup trophy. Following the final whistle, tensions boiled over into a major on-field brawl.

​FIFA’s disciplinary and appeals committees handed down severe punishments across the Argentine camp, prompting a formal challenge by the AFA. While FIFA’s appeals body granted minor relief, it maintained the harshest penalties:

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• ​Leandro Paredes: The midfielder’s heavy 10-match suspension and $90,000 fine remain fully intact. Paredes was heavily penalized for his central role in the skirmish, which included grabbing Eric Garcia by the throat and wrestling Gavi to the ground.

• ​Nahuel Molina: In a partial victory for Argentina, the defender’s punishment was mitigated. His suspension was trimmed from seven matches down to four, with his fine reduced from $90,000 to $60,000.

• ​The Argentine Football Association (AFA): The national body continues to face a hefty $321,000 fine. The penalty was issued over multiple infractions of FIFA’s disciplinary code, covering team misconduct, non-sporting demonstrations, and discriminatory fan chants.

• ​Additional Personnel: Sanctions and bans were also upheld for midfielder Thiago Almada and coaching staff member Roberto Ayala.

​Moving Forward to CAS

​In its official statement, the AFA maintained that it holds robust arguments from both factual and legal standpoints to challenge the remaining sanctions. Having exhausted FIFA’s internal appeals process for the upheld penalties, the association is now proceeding with its filings at CAS to seek a comprehensive review of the disciplinary measures imposed on both the federation and midfielder Leandro Paredes.

​FIFA World Cup 2026: Leandro Paredes Handed 10-Match Ban

​This video provides an overview of the disciplinary actions and the 10-match ban handed to Leandro Paredes following the tense end to the World Cup final.