Spain star Gavi has broken his silence regarding the altercation with Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes following the final whistle of the 2026 World Cup final, stating that he sees no reason to punish the Argentine player with a suspension, despite the incident that occurred between them after the match.
Gavi stated: "I don't think Paredes should be punished with a suspension. It's part of football, but it doesn't present a good image for children. He should have been sent off during the match, and that's it. In the end, it's football, and it should always remain that way."
The final whistle of the match saw Spain crowned World Cup champions after defeating Argentina 1-0, but it was marred by clashes between players from both teams. Leandro Paredes got into a heated exchange with Eric Garcia before Gavi pushed him, leading to chaos on the pitch and sparking widespread controversy.
Despite the controversy surrounding the incident, Gavi sought to downplay the crisis, stating that such emotions are part of the atmosphere in major matches. He acknowledged, however, that they do not represent the ideal image that children should see.
