Olé attacks FIFA bans on Argentina’s Selección World Cup final

In the packed stadium of New Jersey, the final whistle of the World Cup 2026 showdown between Argentina and España sparked a new controversy as FIFA on Friday released disciplinary measures against the Selección, including a ten‑match suspension for Leandro Paredes, a seven‑match ban for Nahuel Molina and fines totalling $510,000.

The disciplinary package also includes $10,000 for the display of a Malvinas flag during the match. The fines total $510,000 across all infractions. The sanctions were handed down by the Comité Disciplinario of FIFA following the incident in the Mundial 2026 final.

Los periodistas de Olé were invited to comment on the measures. Among them were Jorge Trasmonte, Favio Verona, Pablo Ramón, Federico Rozenbaum, Felipe Garavaglia and others. Their reactions illustrate the split in Argentine media over the severity of the punishments.

Journalists debate proportionality

Jorge Trasmonte warned that Argentine fans must learn how they damage the nation’s image by downplaying offensive chants and gestures. He added,

"Argentine fans must learn how they damage our image by minimizing the seriousness of chants and gestures that the civilized world rejects, and our players and coaching staff must emphasize that we cannot create that scandal when we lose. This Selección has always defended sportsmanship values and we cannot forget them when we lose. The sanctions, however, feel very harsh for a FIFA that forgave a suspension to a U.S. player during the tournament. But we must accept and appeal what we can. Perhaps the redeeming point is that the display of the Malvinas flag, which earned us an unfair international backlash, was only punished with a smaller fine."

Favio Verona described the flag incident as a powerful symbolic act that outweighed any bureaucratic protest. He noted that the players knew they risked AFA fines under FIFA regulations, and that the monetary penalty would not have greater implications than the message itself.

Pablo Ramón called the ten‑match ban on Paredes “out of measure” and criticized the fine for the Malvinas flag as “ridiculous”. He questioned why FIFA, which awarded the Peace Prize to Trump, should restrict players’ political expression.

Federico Rozenbaum said the FIFA sanctions were expected but lacked proportionality and consistency. He pointed out that the same FIFA body lifted the suspension of Balogun after a presidential request, highlighting a double standard in disciplinary application.

Felipe Garavaglia argued that the severity of the bans on Paredes and Molina was unacceptable, especially since Gavi received only a single match suspension. He also questioned the reduced stadium capacity imposed for future games as unrelated to the flag issue.

The debate underscores the tension between political expression and FIFA’s disciplinary consistency, a clash that could shape how future World Cup incidents are judged.