Argentina thug Paredes slapped with TEN-MATCH ban but player he attacked also suspended after World Cup final brawl

ARGENTINA World Cup Final thug Leandro Paredes has been banned for 10 matches – effectively ruling him out of international football for a year. The midfielder is one of FOUR stars punished by Fifa over the ugly scenes after their extra-time defeat to Spain at the MetLife Stadium last month. Leandro Paredes has been given a TEN-MATCH ban by Fifa for brawling in the World Cup final Credit: Reuters He is one of four players punished by Fifa for their involvement in the ugly scenes Credit: EPA Paredes was the centre of the heated bust-up as he started throwing punches at Spain star Gavi and pushed him to the ground. Argentina‘s Nauhel Molina squared up to Spain ace Rodri and appeared to swing a leg at him. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Dream Team is back, free, and there’s £100,000 up for grabs! Fifa have now brought the hammer down on the group of players involved. They have also handed Argentina a fine for their players parading with a banner claiming sovereignty over the Falklands after their semi-final win over England in Atlanta. Paredes, found guilty of three counts of “assault”, was handed the heaviest penalty over the brawl, with his 10 match suspension supplemented by a fine of $90,000 – £66,500. New Roma defender Molina, charged with one assault and one “attempted assault” copped a seven match ban, with his fine matching Paredes. And Atletico Madrid’s Thiago Almada was banned for one game and fined just over £22,000, as was Gavi after the pair were found guilty of “unsporting behaviour”. Former Argentina centre-back Roberto Ayala, a member of Lionel Scaloni’s coaching team who attacked Barca’s Dani Olmo amid the madness, was banned for three games and also fined £22,000 after the assault case against him was upheld. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Nahuel Molina was banned for seven matches after squaring up to Rodri Credit: Reuters It was a night of shame for Angentina, who lost their heads after the final whistle Credit: Getty It was a night of shame for Argentina, who finished the match with ten men after Enzo Fernandes‘ red card in stoppage time. Argentina have also been fined £321,000 – or £237,000 – for holding up a controversial Falklands banner after their 2-1 semi-final win over England. The banner read ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ – which translates to ‘The Falklands are Argentine’. Premier League stars Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez were both seen holding the flag up alongside ex-Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso. Fifa announced the punishments “after a thorough assessment of the relevant cases”. The “Malvinas” banner saw Argentina found guilty of “using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature”. In addition, the Argentines were held responsible for “team misconduct” after the game and “discrimination and racist abuse” by their fans as well as breaking rules on “order and security” at matches. Argentina have also been fined £237,000 for holding up a Falklands banner after beating England Credit: Getty FIFA'S WORLD CUP SANCTIONS IN FULL Leandro Paredes (Argentina player) – ten-match suspension and £66,500 fine Nahuel Molina (Argentina player) – seven-match suspension and £66,500 fine Thiago Almada (Argentina player) – one-match suspension and £22,000 fine Roberto Ayala (Argentina coach) – three-match suspension and £22,000 fine Gavi (Spain player) One-match suspension and £22,000 fine Argentina (federation) – fined £237,000 for Falklands banner Argentina were also initially ordered to play their next two home matches in front of only 50 per cent of the normal stadium capacity. However, the penalty will only be applied for their next game, with the second match suspended, as was £74,000 ($100,000) of the fine. Argentina must also “invest” £74,000 of the fine “in a plan to combat discrimination”. There was never any realistic prospect of anything other than a fine for the Falklands banner but the bans for Paredes and Molina are at the higher end of expectations. Argentina FA sources indicated they will appeal against the bans for the three players and the fines, although there is no right of appeal against the punishment for Ayala. The World Cup runners up are not scheduled to play any competitive matches over the next 12 months. However, they could play some money-spinning friendlies in the USA in the looming first international break of the season at the end of next month. Comment now