Gavi: 'Don't punish Argentina after the World Cup 2026 final – this is football'

Spain midfielder Gavi, who was at the center of the post-match melee following the 2026 World Cup final, has surprisingly come out in defense of the Argentine players. The decisive match ended with La Roja defeating Argentina, but seconds after the final whistle, emotions boiled over on the pitch. Despite celebrating victory with his teammates, Gavi told reporters he does not believe further sanctions are necessary. 'Honestly, I don't think they should be disqualified. I understand it's not the best example for kids watching the game, but football has this side too – a bit rougher than we're used to. The referee's decision to send Paredes off seemed logical to me, and that was it. At the end of the day, this is football, and it should be like that in matches of this magnitude,' the Spanish playmaker said. FIFA has already opened disciplinary proceedings over the incident. Gavi, despite being part of the scuffle, remains one of the key architects of Spain's World Cup triumph.