Gavi Believes Paredes Should Not Face Suspension After World Cup Final Incident

Gavi, the Spain midfielder, does not think Argentina's Leandro Paredes deserves a suspension for his role in the altercation after the World Cup 2026 final.

The clash involved several Argentine players including Paredes, Nahuel Molina, and Thiago Almada, as well as assistant coach Roberto Ayala. This took place right after Spain celebrated their 1-0 victory.

The Incident Unfolded

During the scuffle, Paredes appeared to push Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat. Gavi, who was an unused substitute, stepped in to intervene but was knocked down by Almada. At one point, Paredes pushed Gavi to the ground, placing his hand against the Spaniard's face.

FIFA assigned a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to review the incident. Any player or coach involved might face suspension, and the Argentine Football Association could be fined.

"I don’t think [Paredes] should be suspended," Gavi told El Partidazo de COPE. "I understand it’s not a good image for children but there is that other side of football, which is more physical and 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 part of football and it has to be that way."

Assistant Coach Ayala Responds

Roberto Ayala, who seemed to strike Spain’s Dani Olmo during the melee, said he would apologize. He claimed the contact was more of a push than a punch.

"When the match ended, I saw a scuffle on the pitch and I went over to stop it from escalating because that’s not who we are," Ayala said on Capital Radio in Valencia. "I take responsibility for what I did. My intention was simply to separate them, nothing more."

Clarification on Disciplinary Actions

It was mistakenly reported via FIFA’s commentator information system that Paredes had been sent off by referee Slavko Vincic for pushing Garcia. The red card was later removed from the system, and FIFA confirmed no immediate disciplinary action was taken during the match.

Meanwhile, Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card during added time in the second half, resulting in his dismissal.