Argentina face the prospect of serving double suspensions following their World Cup final defeat to Spain, after both Enzo Fernandez and Leandro Paredes received red cards during the match.
The Chelsea midfielder was dismissed in the dying moments of normal time, having accumulated two yellow cards.
Paredes, however, faces far graver consequences for his conduct after the final whistle.
The midfielder was sent off for violent behaviour towards Spanish players, kicking Eric Garcia to the ground and appearing to place his hand around the defender's throat during a heated altercation.
He subsequently pushed Gavi to the floor before officials intervened.
Spain claimed their triumph with a 1-0 victory at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the contest requiring extra time after ninety minutes failed to produce a goal.
Former Manchester City forward Ferran Torres proved the decisive figure, netting the winner during the additional period to crown Spain world champions.
The final whistle triggered chaotic scenes on the pitch as tensions boiled over between the two sides.
Paredes launched his assault on Garcia, with the confrontation rapidly escalating as other players became involved in the melee.
🚨🥊 Full scenes after final whistle.@MickyJnr__ 🎥 pic.twitter.com/ZXCvAFkHwy
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 20, 2026
The ugly scenes marred what had been a tightly contested final between the defending champions and their European opponents.
FIFA regulations stipulate that any bans not served during the tournament itself must be carried forward to a nation's subsequent official fixture.
The governing body's Disciplinary Code confirms: "Any suspension that cannot be served during the FIFA World Cup 26 will be carried over to the representative team's next official match."
Fernandez's dismissal for two cautions typically attracts a standard one-match suspension, which the Chelsea man is expected to serve.
Paredes, by contrast, could find himself sidelined for considerably longer given the violent nature of his post-match conduct.
The Roma midfielder's attack on Garcia after full-time places him at risk of an extended ban from international duty.
British football pundits delivered scathing assessments of Argentina's behaviour following the final whistle.
Alan Shearer, providing commentary for the BBC, declared: "Paredes threw two or three haymakers into someone's face.
"He went for them. There is no place or space for that. We know how much it means to them and we know how much it hurts to lose, but there is a way to lose. Too many times we have seen that from Argentina. The reaction after the final whistle is terrible."
Gary Neville, speaking on ITV, branded the scenes "a disgrace", whilst acknowledging Argentine competitiveness.
Joe Hart offered perhaps the most damning verdict, describing the conduct as "disgusting behaviour" whilst noting that Lionel Messi alone "did have class", shaking hands with every Spanish player.
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