Following the conclusion of the World Cup final, Spain’s Gavi has expressed his opinion that Leandro Paredes should not face a suspension for his involvement in a post-match physical confrontation. Despite a skirmish that included teammates Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada, along with coach Roberto Ayala, Gavi believes that retrospective punishment is unnecessary.
The incident involved a heated exchange where Paredes reportedly pushed Eric Garcia and Gavi himself. While FIFA has initiated a disciplinary review that could result in fines or bans for those involved, Gavi argues that such physicality is simply a component of the sport. He noted that the appropriate time for action would have been an ejection during the game itself.
Initial reports suggested that referee Slavko Vincic had dismissed Paredes during the match; however, FIFA confirmed this was a technical error and no such card was issued. The only official dismissal during the final was Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez, who received a second yellow card in stoppage time.
