Overview
- AFA's Legal Department filed a formal appeal to FIFA's Appeals Committee on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, asking the body to reduce suspensions and other penalties from the July 19 World Cup final.
- FIFA originally imposed a 10-match ban on Leandro Paredes, a seven-match ban on Nahuel Molina, shorter bans for Thiago Almada and Roberto Ayala, a $321,000 fine for AFA and an order to play one match at 50% capacity with another suspended.
- FIFA has allowed three upcoming friendlies to count toward the suspensions but that mitigation would still leave Paredes with seven matches and Molina with four matches to serve after those games.
- AFA has said it will seek FIFA's written reasoning for the rulings and reserves the right to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if the Appeals Committee decision is unsatisfactory.
- If FIFA reduces the bans, affected players could become available for November call-ups, while an unchanged ruling would keep long suspensions in place and limit national-team options during the low number of international fixtures each year.