Argentina star faces more punishment after red card in World Cup final | Football | Sport

Argentina could have two of their players handed suspensions after Enzo Fernandez and Leandro Paredes both received red cards during the World Cup final. Extra time was needed to determine the winner, with Spain emerging victorious with a 1-0 win at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The final finished goalless after 90 minutes, with Barcelona star and former Manchester City forward Ferran Torres finding the back of the net to win the tournament for Spain.

Argentina finished the match with 10 players after Chelsea midfielder Fernandez was sent off for picking up two yellow cards before the end of the 90 minutes.

Chaotic scenes erupted following the final whistle as Paredes was also shown a red card after kicking Eric Garcia to the ground and seemingly placing his hand around the Spain defender’s neck during a heated altercation, before proceeding to shove Gavi to the floor.

Argentina will now see both players serve suspensions but the length of time the pair will be unavailable for selection remains unclear. Fernandez’s situation is more straightforward, with two yellows typically resulting in a one-match ban, which is anticipated to be imposed on the Chelsea midfielder.

For Paredes, there exists the possibility of a more substantial suspension owing to the circumstances of his dismissal after the final whistle. With the World Cup now concluded, the bans handed to the Argentina pair are expected to take effect for the nation’s next competitive encounter.

“Any suspension that cannot be served during the FIFA World Cup 26 will be carried over to the representative team’s next official match in accordance with the relevant provisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” FIFA rules state.

Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer was commentating for the BBC‘s coverage of the final in New Jersey and shared his assessment of the post-match incidents.

“Paredes threw two or three haymakers into someone’s face. He went for them,” Shearer said. “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.”

“It’s a disgrace,” Neville said. “I love the competitiveness of the Argentines, fighting and scrapping for their lives, Messi has propped them up, but it’s been a disgrace the last few games.”

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart also gave a blunt verdict.

“There was one man on the pitch who did have class and that was Lionel Messi, who shook hands with every one of those Spanish players,” he said on the BBC.

“The game’s done. They could have absolutely no complaints about what happened today. Disgusting behaviour.”