FIFA Overturns Paredes Red Card After 2026 Final
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has annulled the red card shown to Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes after the 2026 World Cup final.
Jul 29, 2026 0
FIFA has decided to annul the red card received by Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes after the World Cup final, the British broadcaster BBC reported.
The incident occurred after the match, where Spain won 1-0 in extra time. Paredes first grabbed defender Eric Garcia by the throat and then pushed midfielder Gavi. After that, the former Zenit St. Petersburg player was calmed down by teammates.
Initially, FIFA notified of a red card, but later this record was removed from the protocol. The federation confirmed that no disciplinary measures would be taken against Paredes.
Additionally, according to BBC, FIFA launched an investigation into the episode with a banner displayed by Argentine players after the semifinal win over England (2-1). It had the inscription «Malvinas are Argentine.»
Earlier, a high-profile red card scandal occurred in the USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina match. American Folarin Balogun was shown a red card for stepping on an opponent«s ankle — the decision was made after a video review. Balogun was set to miss the next match, but the FIFA Disciplinary Committee suspended the disqualification after US President Donald Trump discussed the situation with the committee chair.
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