Spain midfielder Gavi has come out in defence of Argentina's Leandro Paredes, arguing that the post-match scenes at the FIFA World Cup 2026 final do not warrant a retrospective suspension.

Speaking to Spanish radio station El Partidazo de COPE, Gavi was direct in his assessment. "No, to tell you the truth, I don't think he should be suspended," he said of Paredes. "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."

While acknowledging that the brawl sent a poor message to younger viewers, Gavi maintained that physicality and aggression are woven into the fabric of the game at the highest level.

His core argument was procedural: any punishment should have been administered on the pitch, in real time, rather than imposed through external disciplinary channels after the final whistle had blown. "The most logical thing would have been to send him off during the match, and that's it. In the end, I think it's all football, and it has to be that way," he added.

FIFA opens disciplinary proceedings

Despite Gavi's plea for leniency, FIFA has moved to examine the incident formally. The governing body appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to investigate the unsportsmanlike conduct and potential breaches of the disciplinary code that took place during the post-final melee.

The development follows earlier reports that families of Argentina players were detained by police in the aftermath of the disturbances, underlining the seriousness with which authorities are treating the events that marred the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup 2026.