Spain star Gavi has refused to demand disciplinary action against Argentina’s Leandro Paredes following the altercation that took place between the pair after the 2026 World Cup final.
The incident unfolded right after the final whistle when Paredes confronted Eric García. Gavi stepped in to defend his teammate, only to be shoved to the ground by the Boca Juniors midfielder.
Speaking during a tribute in his hometown of Los Palacios, Gavi addressed the incident: “I don’t think they should be suspended, although I understand that what happened doesn’t set a good example for children.”
The FC Barcelona midfielder added: “Football has a more aggressive side, and perhaps the most logical resolution would have been sending him off during the match. But at the end of the day, it’s all part of football.”
Gavi’s forgiving stance comes despite FIFA opening a formal investigation into the post-match scenes, which followed Spain’s 1–0 victory over Argentina to secure La Roja‘s second World Cup title in history.
While Gavi did not disclose what was said between him and Paredes prior to the scuffle, Spanish fact-checking outlets have debunked widely circulated rumors claiming the midfielder had provoked his Argentine opponent.
Despite Gavi’s leniency, FIFA is still widely expected to impose a heavy penalty on Paredes for unsportsmanlike conduct, noting that the midfielder was already shown a red card after the final whistle.
