Spain midfielder Gavi has come to the defense of Argentina's Leandro Paredes, expressing his hope that Paredes will not face suspension following a chaotic altercation at the conclusion of the World Cup final. The incident unfolded just seconds after Spain's narrow 1-0 victory over Argentina at MetLife Stadium.

The brawl involved Paredes, teammate Nahuel Molina, and Argentina's coach Roberto Ayala, igniting controversy as FIFA confirmed that no red card was issued to Paredes during the match. However, FIFA's disciplinary committee has initiated an investigation into potential breaches of its disciplinary code related to the incident.

Gavi shared his perspective on El Partidazo de COPE, stating:

“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.”

He further noted that the most reasonable action would have been to send Paredes off during the match itself, suggesting that such altercations are part of the sport.

The brawl saw Paredes grabbing Eric Garcia by the throat and throwing Gavi to the ground, while Molina's initial strike on Rodri ignited the confrontation. Ayala was also reported to have punched Dani Olmo.

Additionally, Enzo Fernandez of Argentina received a red card in the second half for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsi, adding to the match's intensity.