Argentina FA plans CAS challenge after FIFA upholds World Cup sanctions

The Argentina Football Association plans to take its challenge against World Cup disciplinary sanctions to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after FIFA rejected appeals concerning the federation and midfielder Leandro Paredes. BBC Sport reported that the AFA intends to request the reasons for FIFA's decisions before taking the dispute to CAS.

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Paredes received a 10-match suspension for his involvement in clashes on the pitch after Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Those sanctions remain in place, according to the AFA. Team-mate Nahuel Molina was initially suspended for seven matches, but the association said FIFA had cut that ban to four games. Both players were fined $90,000.

The disciplinary case also brought a $321,000 fine for the AFA. BBC Sport reported that the federation's breaches of FIFA's disciplinary code covered using a sporting event for a demonstration unrelated to sport, misconduct by the team, and discriminatory chanting and gestures by Argentina supporters. The federation's punishment was separate from the suspensions imposed on the two players.

The tournament incidents extended beyond the final. After Argentina defeated England 2-1 in their World Cup semi-final, several players displayed a banner asserting Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory. That episode formed part of the background to the disciplinary action, alongside the conduct of players and supporters during Argentina's World Cup campaign.

In its account of the disturbances after the July final, BBC Sport said Paredes, Molina, Thiago Almada and assistant coach Roberto Ayala appeared to be involved as Spain celebrated. Paredes appeared to push Eric Garcia by the throat. Spain substitute Gavi attempted to intervene and was forced to the ground by Almada, according to the report. FIFA subsequently appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to examine the events before imposing sanctions.

The AFA's statement sets out an intended next step rather than a completed appeal to CAS. It said it would first seek FIFA's reasoning for maintaining the punishments. For now, the announced outcome leaves Paredes' sanctions unchanged and Molina with a reduced suspension, while the federation prepares to pursue its challenge outside FIFA's appeals process.