FIFA appeal reduces Molina's ban, Paredes' 10-match suspension stands
Three Argentina footballers received heavy punishments after the brawl and misconduct that followed their defeat to Spain in the World Cup final. FIFA has now reviewed the punishments of two of them.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) said FIFA's appeal division has reduced Nahuel Molina's punishment, while Leandro Paredes' 10-match ban has been kept in place.
FIFA had earlier handed Molina a seven-match ban; on appeal it has been reduced to four matches. His fine has also been cut from 90,000 dollars to 60,000 dollars.
Molina had punched Spain midfielder Rodri while the Spaniards were celebrating their win in the final.
Paredes, a midfielder who now plays for Argentine club Boca Juniors, has had no reduction in his punishment. Amid the Spanish players' celebrations, he pushed and struck Eric Garcia and also clashed with Gavi.
FIFA has upheld his 10-match ban and 90,000-dollar fine over the incident.
Alongside Paredes' punishment, FIFA's disciplinary committee has also upheld the 321,000-dollar fine imposed on the Argentine Football Association for discriminatory chanting.
However, the AFA has announced it will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against Paredes' ban and the fine for the racist chanting. The association will appeal after asking for the detailed reasons behind the decisions.
It claims there are sufficient factual and legal grounds in favour of the appeal.
Earlier, under FIFA's sanctions, Thiago Almada was given a one-match ban along with a 30,000-dollar fine. Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala, meanwhile, received a three-match ban and a 30,000-dollar fine for punching Dani Olmo.
The bans of those two coach and player had already expired during the previous international break.
Lionel Scaloni's side will play two matches in this month's FIFA window. In their first match after Lionel Messi's retirement, they face Uruguay in Buenos Aires on 13 November, and then take on Costa Rica in Cordoba on 17 November.
