In a dramatic double blow for the world's most popular sport, football’s governing body FIFA has handed out some of the most severe punishments in World Cup history to several Argentinian players, even as it faces a global rebellion from fans demanding the resignation of its president, Gianni Infantino.

The sanctions follow a series of chaotic scenes on the pitch after last month's tense World Cup final on July 19, where Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The fallout has now triggered a massive legal battle and exposed deep fractures at the very top of global football.

The heavy price of New Jersey's final whistle fury

Tempers flared in New Jersey after Spain's Ferran Torres scored the match's only goal in extra time, compounding Argentina's frustration after midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off. FIFA’s disciplinary judges have now cracked down on the post-match violence with astonishing force.

Midfielder Leandro Paredes has been hit with a whopping 10-match international ban and fined $90,000 for his central role in the physical clashes. During the melee, Paredes grabbed Spain's Eric Garcia by the throat and wrestled Gavi to the ground while holding his substitute's bib. This 10-game suspension effectively excludes Paredes from the national squad for an entire year, as Argentina's schedule consists of 10 matches through June 2027—all of which could be friendlies with no competitive games currently scheduled.

The punishment for Paredes ranks alongside the infamous 2014 ban given to Uruguay’s Luis Suarez for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini, and the 10-match ban handed to Croatia’s Josip Simunic in 2013 for leading fans in a pro-Nazi megaphone chant.

Paredes is not alone in facing the music. Defender Nahuel Molina received a seven-match ban and a $90,000 fine, while teammate Thiago Almada was suspended for one match and fined $30,000. Coaching staff member Roberto Ayala also received a three-game ban and a $30,000 fine.

Even the victorious Spaniards did not escape entirely. Midfielder Gavi has been banned for one match and fined $30,000 for his part in the physical altercation. Gavi's suspension means he will miss Spain’s upcoming UEFA Nations League clash against England at Wembley on September 26.

Political banners and fan chants draw hefty fines

The players' behaviour was only part of the problem. The Argentinian Football Association (AFA) has been ordered to pay a total of $321,000 in fines for several breaches of FIFA's disciplinary code.

These violations included team misconduct, discriminatory chants by Argentinian supporters, and using a sports event for non-sporting demonstrations. During their tense 2-1 semi-final victory over England, several Argentina players held up a controversial political banner stating: "The Falklands are Argentine".

The banner referenced the 74-day armed conflict in 1982, which began when Argentine forces invaded the British overseas territory. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sent a naval task force to reclaim the islands, resulting in the tragic deaths of 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen, along with three local islanders.

For these combined incidents, FIFA initially fined the AFA $110,000, which is part of the total $321,000 penalty. Additionally, the federation must spend $100,000 on anti-racism projects. Argentina's next home match will also be played in a stadium restricted to just 50 percent capacity, with a second stadium sanction and a further $100,000 fine currently deferred under a probationary period. These penalties represent a small fraction of the $34 million in World Cup prize money Argentina received from FIFA, but they represent a major reputational blow.

Argentina prepares to fight back in court

Predictably, the Argentinian camp is not taking these punishments lying down. The AFA has officially announced its intention to appeal against the length of the player suspensions and the hefty financial penalties.

In an official statement, the Argentinian federation made its legal strategy clear. "The AFA legal department will, in a timely manner, request from FIFA the grounds for the reviewable rulings in order to file appeals with the governing body's appeal committee, while retaining the future option of appealing to the CAS as a final recourse," the federation confirmed.

Additionally, the AFA reiterated in another statement that it would "request from FIFA the grounds for the rulings that are subject to review in order to file appeals before the Appeals Committee" to ensure every legal avenue is thoroughly explored. This dual-track approach means that if the FIFA Appeals Committee rejects their pleas, Argentina is fully prepared to take the battle to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.

Why football's governing body is facing its own crisis

While FIFA has been busy disciplining players, its own leadership is under fire. An international coalition of fan organisations—including Football Supporters Europe, Football Supporters Africa, and North America’s Independent Supporters Council—has launched a petition demanding that FIFA President Gianni Infantino resign.

Under the online hashtag #InfantinOut, fan groups representing about 40 nations are demanding that FIFA "to be rebuilt so that the current debacle can never happen again."

The spark for this explosive petition was Infantino's controversial plan to sell off future World Cup commercial profits to private investors. Although he dropped the commercial spinoff plan following a fierce public backlash, supporters have not forgiven him. The petition stated: "The shameful attempt by one individual - the FIFA President himself - to sell off the World Cup to private investors exposed a betrayal football will never forget".

The fans' petition does not hold back, accusing the president of a total failure of democratic governance. "Gianni Infantino has demonstrated a profound failure of leadership, incompatible with democratic governance," the petition states. It goes on to add: "The concentration of power around the FIFA Presidency, combined with opaque decision-making, personality cult clientelism, and zero accountability has destroyed any remaining trust in the world governing body."

The fan coalition insists that change is urgent: "For the credibility of FIFA - and for the future of the game - he must resign". Supporters also point to a long list of grievances, including Infantino's backing of the failed European Super League project, his failed push to hold the World Cup every two years, and what they call the "extortionate ticketing policy at the 2026 FIFA World Cup."

FIFA and Infantino did not consult fan groups before introducing record ticket prices for the expanded 104-game tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This decision caused widespread outrage, even though some tickets were eventually sold for $60 to the most loyal fans of the 48 participating nations.

While European football body UEFA has stated it has no confidence in Infantino, and leaders from CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation have criticised him, his position remains supported by Morocco, Qatar, and Lebanon. However, Saudi Arabia, the 2034 World Cup host, has notably withheld public backing despite strong political connections with the under-fire president. FIFA has been approached for comment regarding the fan petition, but has not yet responded.