Leandro Paredes has expressed his discontent regarding the 10-match ban he received for his involvement in the post-match brawl following the 2026 World Cup final. The incident took place after Spain’s victory over Argentina on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Paredes claims that Gavi punched him in the chest during the melee and feels that his punishment is excessively harsh compared to Gavi's.

The chaos erupted immediately after the final whistle, leading to FIFA sanctioning four Argentina players, including Paredes. Reports indicated that Paredes grabbed Eric Garcia by the throat and engaged in a physical altercation with Gavi, even striking the Barcelona midfielder in the face.

Paredes is questioning the disparity in sanctions, highlighting that Gavi received only a one-match ban despite allegedly starting the confrontation. He plans to appeal the decision in hopes of reducing his suspension.

In contrast, Gavi, who acknowledged that the incident did not reflect well on football, stated that he did not believe Paredes and his teammates should face suspensions. This ongoing dispute over the proportionality of the punishments raises questions about the fairness of disciplinary actions in football.

As Paredes prepares to challenge his ban, it remains uncertain whether his appeal will be successful in altering the length of his suspension.