Spain midfielder Gavi spoke out, stating directly that Argentina’s Leandro Paredes should not face suspension for his role in the wild confrontation that marred the World Cup final aftermath.
World Cup Final Chaos: Who Did What?
Remember that insane fracas that erupted right after Spain clinched their massive 1-0 victory in the World Cup final? It was pure chaos on the pitch. Argentina’s Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada, and even assistant coach Roberto Ayala were all caught up in the madness. Paredes, specifically, looked like he got aggressive, seeming to push Spain’s Eric Garcia right by the throat. Yeah, you read that right, by the throat! Then, in the heat of the moment, Spain midfielder Gavi, who is now surprisingly defending Paredes, tried to intervene. What happened next? Argentina’s Almada forcibly took Gavi to the ground. And to make things even crazier, Paredes himself, the guy Gavi’s now sticking up for, pushed the Barcelona midfielder to the turf, hand right in the Spaniard’s face! It was a total mess, a wild scene nobody wants to see after the biggest game in the world.
FIFA’s Investigation and Gavi’s Stance
Now, the fallout is real. FIFA, the big boss, has officially appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor. This isn’t just some casual chat; they’re assessing *everything* that went down. Any player or coach who was involved in that on-field chaos could receive a suspension, and the Argentine Football Association itself might get hit with a hefty fine. But here’s the kicker: Gavi, despite getting shoved to the turf, is actually standing up for Paredes! He went on El Partidazo de COPE and laid it out, saying: “I don’t think [Paredes] should be suspended. I understand it’s not a good image for children, but I think there’s also that side to football, which is a bit more physical, more aggressive. The most logical thing would have been to send him off during the match, and that’s it. In the end, I think it’s all football, and it has to be that way.” Gavi’s point is clear: If it was worthy of a red card, referee Slavko Vincic should’ve given it during the game. It’s ironic because FIFA’s own commentator information system *incorrectly* reported that Paredes *had* been sent off for pushing Garcia by the throat. That red card was quickly deleted, and FIFA later confirmed no disciplinary action was taken by the referee at the time. Meanwhile, Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez *was* dismissed during the final, getting a second yellow card in second-half added time. One guy gets sent off during the match, and the other, involved in a physical post-game fracas, is now in the disciplinary crosshairs, with a victim defending him. Wild stuff.
So, what’s next? Gavi has thrown his unexpected support behind Paredes, essentially saying, “Hey, it’s football, let the game be the game.” But FIFA isn’t so quick to brush off what looked like a serious incident on the world stage. Will Gavi’s “physical and aggressive” philosophy sway the disciplinary committee, or will they come down hard? The whole football world is watching to see how the sport’s governing body defines the line between competitive fire and unacceptable post-match conduct. This isn’t over yet.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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