Leandro Paredes has hinted that he could avoid a potential nine-game punishment from FIFA for his central role in the disgraceful scenes which ensued after the World Cup final. Paredes, 32, was involved in several unsavoury incidents following Spain’s 2-1 extra-time victory over Argentina.
At the full-time whistle, Paredes was seen kicking Eric Garcia and then hitting him in the throat, before taking midfielder Gavi to the floor. Each incident could carry its own three-match ban, according to Article 14 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and if he is found guilty on all charges, the Boca Juniors man faces a nine-game suspension in total.
Nevertheless, Paredes has recently suggested he may retire from international football, which means any potential ban could prove irrelevant.
When questioned about his future with the national side several days after the final, Paredes responded: “I don’t know. It’s a process: you have to digest it, think it through, avoid making rushed decisions, and it’s certainly something that needs to be discussed.”
While international retirement might initially shield Paredes from a potential violent conduct punishment, FIFA retains the power to invoke Article 70 to extend any sanction globally — as was the case when Luis Suarez was banned from all football-related activities for four months following his bite on Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.
Such intervention, however, is typically reserved for the most severe disciplinary matters, making it unlikely that Paredes’ circumstances would meet the required threshold.
FIFA is yet to deliver a final ruling on Paredes’ case and, while a nine-game ban remains a theoretical possibility based on prior disciplinary precedents, a suspension of five or six matches appears the most probable outcome.
Argentina star Nahuel Molina is also under investigation after being charged with two acts of aggression in the wake of the final — one completed and one attempted — while Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala faces a separate aggression charge that could equally result in a ban.
FIFA has furthermore opened disciplinary proceedings against the Argentine Football Association (AFA) over alleged discriminatory chants and gestures, failures to comply with match and security protocols, delays to kick-off, inappropriate messages displayed by players and supporters, and the throwing of objects.
Should those violations be confirmed, the AFA could face a considerable financial penalty and, in the most serious scenario, partial or full stadium closures for forthcoming home fixtures.