Spain midfielder, Gavi, has urged FIFA not to suspend Argentina players involved in the altercation that followed the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, saying the incident was part of football’s competitive nature.
The Barcelona star made the remarks during a ceremony in his hometown of Los Palacios y Villafranca, where he and Spain teammate Fabián Ruiz were honoured days after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win the World Cup in New Jersey.
Gavi was one of the players caught up in the confrontation that erupted after the final whistle. The 21-year-old intervened to defend a teammate before Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes pushed him to the ground.
Despite the incident, Gavi said he does not believe further punishment is necessary.
“If I’m honest, I don’t think they should be suspended,” he said.
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Gavi added, “I understand that what happened doesn’t set a good example for children, but football also involves an element of friction and violence. For me, it was normal for the player to be sent off during the match, but in the end I see these things as part of football.”
Speaking further, Gavi reiterated his position, saying, “I don’t think they should be suspended… I understand that this doesn’t present a good image for the kids, but football has always had a more aggressive and intense side.
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“For me, it made sense for them to be punished with a red card to Enzo during the match and for the matter to end there. I see that everything that happened is part of football.”
The incident occurred moments after Spain secured a 1-0 victory over Argentina to claim their second FIFA World Cup title.
Several players from both sides became involved in the confrontation. Argentina’s Nahuel Molina clashed with Spain midfielder Rodri, while Leandro Paredes confronted both Gavi and Eric Garcia. A separate heated exchange also involved Argentina defender Nicolás Otamendi and Rodri.
Argentina midfielder, Enzo Fernández, had already been sent off during the closing stages of the match after receiving a second yellow card.
Earlier this week, FIFA confirmed it had opened a formal disciplinary investigation into Argentina’s conduct following the final.
In a statement, football’s world governing body said its Disciplinary Committee had appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to examine possible breaches of the FIFA Disciplinary Code arising from the post-match events.
If found guilty, individual Argentina players and members of the coaching staff could face suspensions, while the Argentine Football Association (AFA) could also receive financial sanctions.
FIFA said further details would be announced after the prosecutor submits a report on the investigation.
