After the World Cup final, some Argentines lost their tempers, leading to scuffles—and FIFA is now investigating. Gavi was one of the Spanish victims, but he has now surprised everyone with an unexpected statement.
After Spain’s 1-0 victory in extra time, ugly scenes unfolded in East Rutherford as Argentine players lost their tempers—and physical altercations ensued. FIFA is investigating. Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina appear to be at the center of the investigation. After the final whistle, Paredes first grabbed Eric by the throat and shortly afterward shoved Gavi to the ground, giving the impression that he seriously intended to strike him.
However, it didn’t come to that, partly because teammate Thiago Almada—who had also been scuffling with Gavi—stood in Paredes’ way. Molina, for his part, had struck Rodri—who had been substituted in extra time and then ran onto the field to celebrate after the final whistle—in the chest. Although some media outlets initially reported that Paredes received a red card after the game, this cannot be confirmed on FIFA’s official website. However, he could still face disciplinary action as a result of the investigation.
“That’s also part of soccer”
Gavi, the victim, however, didn’t want to make too much of the incident. The FC Barcelona midfielder commented on the incident on the sidelines of an event in his hometown of Los Palacios y Villafranca, where he and his Spanish World Cup-winning teammate Fabián were honored, and spoke out against a retroactive penalty for the Argentines in front of the cameras.
“To be honest, I don’t think they should be suspended,” the 21-year-old replied to a reporter’s question on the matter, adding that, in his opinion, the situation could have been resolved with a red card during the match.
Emotions and friction are nothing new in soccer, and for Gavi, such things are simply part of the game—after all, he admits to having an aggressive side himself. “I realize that what happened isn’t a good example for children,” the 21-year-old explained, well aware of the public perception of such outbursts. “But there’s also this side of soccer that’s a bit more violent.”