World Cup ‘violence’ to be investigated after Spain participant was ‘punched’ at full-time
Violence broke out after the final whistle, with Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes appearing to throw punches at members of Spain’s victorious squad as they attempted to celebrate on the pitch
Violence broke out in the seconds after the final whistle (Image: Getty Images)
The brawl which followed Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain will be reviewed internally by FIFA, it is understood.
Violence broke out in the seconds after the final whistle at the MetLife Stadium, with Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes appearing to throw punches at members of Spain’s victorious squad as they attempted to celebrate on the pitch.
It is understood the match commissioner’s report will be reviewed within FIFA before any decision is taken on whether to open disciplinary proceedings against any player, and potentially the Argentinian FA (AFA).
The South Americans were criticised over their physical approach again, as they were in their semi-final victory over England, with Enzo Fernandez sent off for two yellow cards in New Jersey.
Leandro Paredes was sent off(Image: Ricardo Nogueira/SPP/Shutterstock)
The second was shown for a reckless challenge on Spain defender Pau Cubarsi.
Paredes was not sent off in the ugly ending to Sunday’s match, so any suspension or sanction for him would arise from any retrospective investigation that may be opened by the FIFA disciplinary committee.
It is still not known whether the FIFA disciplinary committee is investigating Argentina players for holding up a banner proclaiming Argentinian sovereignty over the Falkland Islands after the semi-final win over England.
Leandro Paredes gets violent after the full-time whistle(Image: Getty Images)
That action appeared to be in direct contravention of Article 34.3 of the tournament regulations.
The AFA was fined over the same act following a 2014 friendly against Slovenia, but UEFA has previously taken stronger action for a similar offence, imposing one-match bans on Spain’s Rodri and Alvaro Morata after chanting about Spain’s claims to Gibraltar after winning Euro 2024.
Paredes was sent off for an angry clash with Eric Garcia(Image: Getty Images)
FIFA has previously threatened a hard line on political gestures, with the English FA told Harry Kane would face sporting sanctions starting with a yellow card if he wore a `OneLove’ rainbow-coloured armband at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where homosexuality is criminalised
