Spain midfielder Gavi has expressed his view that Argentina's Leandro Paredes should not face suspension for his involvement in the post-match confrontation that followed Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final.
The incident on the pitch saw several players and coaches from both sides involved, with Paredes appearing to push Spain's Eric Garcia and also pushing Gavi to the turf. Gavi was also forced to the ground by Thiago Almada.
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.
FIFA has since appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to assess the events, with potential suspensions for those involved and a possible fine for the Argentine Football Association.
Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala also stated he would apologise to Spain's Dani Olmo for his involvement, describing his action as "more of a push than a punch."
- Botafogo → Atlético (2025), €21.00m
- Lyon → Botafogo (2025), End of loan
- Botafogo → Lyon (2025), loan transfer