Argentina Football Team: The ban has not yet lifted, but great relief has returned to the Argentina camp. Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada and assistant coach Roberto Ayala, who were suspended for the on-field collision after the World Cup final, will now be able to reduce the number of their bans by playing friendly matches. FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee granted the permission in response to an appeal by the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
The equation changes in FIFA’s decision
The AFA had earlier appealed to FIFA that the respective bans be enforced only in ‘A’ international friendlies or official matches – whichever comes first. As FIFA accepted the request, now these four will not need to serve punishment only in World Cup qualifying matches. As a result, the risk of their absence in important competitive matches is somewhat reduced.
Paredes’ punishment is the highest
Paredes received the heaviest punishment among the four. He has been banned for 10 matches. The punishment was imposed after the World Cup final in which Spain’s Eric Garcia was involved in a dispute and was thrown to the ground by his neck. Molina has been banned for seven matches for hitting Rodri. Almada received a one-match ban for brawling, while Ayala was banned for three matches for punching Dani Olmo.
The penalty can be reduced only in friendly matches
According to the FIFA calendar, there are still two international windows this year. Argentina can play a maximum of four matches in the window from September 21 to October 6 and a maximum of two matches in the window from November 9 to 17. That is, if Argentina play six matches in these two windows, then the majority of the punishment for players who received more match bans like Paredes and Molina could end there.
AFA is fighting to reduce the penalty
But AFA does not stop here. Argentina’s football federation continues to try to ease the ban further. In a statement, they said, first the report detailing the reasons for the FIFA punishment is awaited. After receiving that report, an appeal will be made to the FIFA Appeals Committee. The AFA also plans to approach the Court of Arbitration for Sport, or CAS, if necessary.
Question about the punishment of Paredes
AFA lawyer Andres ‘Patton’ Urich previously claimed Paredes, Molina and Ayala’s punishments were more than their crimes. In reference to Paredes’ punishment, he gave the example of Uruguay’s Luis Suarez’s nine-match ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup. However, Thiago Almada has no chance to appeal against the one-match suspension, Urich said. For the time being, although the ban remains in place, Argentina is somewhat relieved to have the opportunity to spend it in the friendly match.