Argentina are facing potential double punishment following the red cards shown to Enzo Fernandez and Leandro Paredes during the World Cup final. Spain secured a 1-0 win over the defending champions at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to claim the tournament title.
Match Details and Red Cards
The match required extra time to settle the outcome after finishing goalless at full-time, with former Manchester City forward Ferran Torres netting the decisive goal. Fernandez was dismissed in the dying moments of normal time after accumulating two yellow cards before the 90-minute mark.
Scenes turned chaotic after the final whistle as Paredes was also given his marching orders following an incident in which he kicked Eric Garcia to the ground, appeared to grab the Spain defender by the throat during a heated altercation, before shoving Gavi to the floor.
Potential Bans and FIFA Rules
Both players will now serve suspensions, though the precise length of their respective bans is yet to be confirmed. Fernandez's punishment appears more straightforward, as a two-yellow-card dismissal typically carries a one-match ban, which the Chelsea midfielder is widely expected to receive.
Paredes, however, faces the possibility of a considerably lengthier suspension given the serious nature of his post-match sending off. With the World Cup now concluded, the bans issued to both Argentina players are anticipated to take effect when the nation next takes to the pitch in a competitive fixture, reports the Mirror.
"Any suspension that cannot be served during the FIFA World Cup 26 will be carried over to the representative team's next official match in accordance with the relevant provisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Code," FIFA rules state.
Reactions from Pundits
Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer was on commentary duty for the BBC's coverage of the final in New Jersey and delivered his assessment of the post-match incidents. "Paredes threw two or three haymakers into someone's face. He went for them," Shearer said. "There is no place or space for that. We know how much it means to them and we know how much it hurts to lose, but there is a way to lose. Too many times we have seen that from Argentina. The reaction after the final whistle is terrible."
Manchester United legend Gary Neville was also clear with his verdict while on punditry duty for ITV. "It's a disgrace," Neville said. "I love the competitiveness of the Argentines, fighting and scrapping for their lives, Messi has propped them up, but it's been a disgrace the last few games."
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart also gave a blunt verdict. "There was one man on the pitch who did have class and that was Lionel Messi, who shook hands with every one of those Spanish players," he said on the BBC. "The game's done. They could have absolutely no complaints about what happened today. Disgusting behaviour."
