Women's Euros star receives ban for first group match after incident that happened 355 days ago

The UEFA European Women's Championship kicks off on Wednesday as hosts Switzerland host Norway in Basel but one player will have to wait to make her first appearance of the tournament.

In an bizarre turn of events, Irene Paredes is unable to play in Spain's opening fixture against Portugal at the Wankdorf Stadium in Berne on Thursday.

Paredes, who plays her club football with Barcelona, was a key part of the Spain side which won the Women's World Cup by beating England 1-0 and also lifted the Women's Nations League a year later.

But despite being named in the squad, the centre-back, capped 109 times for her country, is banned for the first game.

Why is Irene Paredes banned for Spain's first game?

As highlighted by The Athletic, the 33-year-old was sent off against Czech Republic in Spain's penultimate Euro 2025 qualifier on July 12, 2024.

She was handed a two-game suspension for "serious rough play" after a late and high challenge and was suspended for the final qualifier against Belgium.

The former Paris Saint-Germain star was free to play in Spain’s UEFA Nations League campaign in 2025 because the ban did not carry over into the different competition.

Irene Paredes was sent off back in July 2024 and still has gone left on her suspension. Image: Getty

Instead, the second game of the suspension will come against Portugal, with Laia Aleixandri and Maria Mendez in line to start at the heart of the backline after partnering one another in the 3-1 friendly victory over Japan.

“Irene is our captain and embodies the essence of the profession every day,” manager Montse Tome said on Paredes' situation in a press conference on Wednesday.

“We knew a year ago that she wouldn’t be able to participate. With the red card against the Czech Republic, we won’t be able to count on her in the same competition.

Had Paredes picked up two yellow cards in Euro 2025 qualifying as opposed to a red card, she would have been able to feature as the suspension for that sanction is just one game.

She will be eligible to play against Belgium at the Stockhorn Arena in Group B on Monday.

Spain have also been given a major boost after two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati began individual training after being diagnosed with viral meningitis.