Gavi Urges FIFA to Show Leniency Toward Paredes

Spain midfielder Gavi has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Argentina defender Leandro Paredes following the heated scenes that erupted after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, insisting that the player should not face additional disciplinary action.

Speaking during an interview with Spanish radio programme El Partidazo de COPE, the Barcelona star argued that football is an emotional and physically demanding sport where tempers can occasionally flare.

While he admitted the confrontation was not an ideal spectacle, especially for younger fans, he believes incidents of that nature should be dealt with during the game rather than through retrospective punishment.

According to Gavi, if match officials believed Paredes crossed the line, the appropriate response would have been to issue a red card during the final itself.

He maintained that reopening the matter after the match had concluded would be unnecessary, stressing that intense emotions often accompany high-stakes fixtures.

The midfielder acknowledged that footballers have a responsibility to set a good example but noted that physical confrontations have long been part of the sport's competitive nature. In his view, such moments should be judged within the context of the game.

The debate comes after FIFA appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to investigate the post-match altercation involving players from both teams.

The governing body is examining whether any participants breached its disciplinary code during the chaotic scenes that followed the final whistle.

Gavi's remarks add another perspective to the ongoing discussion, with opinions divided over whether players involved in the incident deserve further sanctions or whether the matter should be considered closed after the match itself.