FIFA reduce Molina ban after Argentina brawl during 2026 World Cup final

Roma full-back Nahuel Molina has seen his international ban reduced by FIFA after an appeal from the Argentine Federation following the post-match brawl that broke out at the end of the 2026 World Cup final.

Molina had originally been handed a seven-game ban and his teammate, former Roma and Juventus midfielder Leoandro Paredes was given a 10-match ban for his involvement in the World Cup final brawl in the summer. Molina was also handed a fine of $77,000 and his teammate $90,000.

Following an appeal from the AFA, Molina’s ban has been reduced from seven matches to four and his fine reduced from $77,000 to $60,000. Paredes’s 10-match ban and $90,000 has been upheld.

Molina has already served three games of his suspension: Argentina having beaten Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin in a series of friendlies in October since the World Cup final in July.

He was not part of the Argentina national team squad that was announced earlier this week ahead of a pair of international friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica coming up in November.

Seven other Serie A players were, including three of Molina’s Roma teammates in Leonardo Balerdi, Matias Soule and Santiago Castro, plus Como pair Nico Paz and Maxi Perrone, as well as Parma’s Mariano Troilo and Fiorentina’s Franco Mastantuono.