Gavi says Argentina's World Cup final brawlers shouldn't be punished, even after being shoved to the ground himself

[Kev94]

Spain midfielder Gavi has said he doesn't believe Argentina players should be suspended by FIFA over the chaotic scenes that erupted immediately after Sunday's World Cup final, despite being personally shoved to the ground during the melee. Argentina's Leandro Paredes had grabbed Spain's Eric García by the throat moments after the final whistle, and Gavi, an unused substitute in Spain's 1-0 extra time win, stepped in to defend his teammate before Paredes pushed him down

FIFA opened a formal disciplinary investigation into the incident, which also saw footage emerge of Paredes and Nahuel Molina hitting Spain's García and Rodri, while Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala was seen apparently striking Dani Olmo. Molina separately confronted his former Manchester City teammate Rodri, with Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi also involved in a verbal exchange. Enzo Fernández had already been sent off in second half stoppage time for a foul on Pau Cubarsí, meaning he was the only player actually dismissed during the match itself, with all the additional physical incidents occurring only after the final whistle

Despite being directly on the receiving end of the shove, Gavi was strikingly forgiving in his comments to reporters, saying he realizes it doesn't set a good example for children but that there's a rougher side to football that's simply part of the game. He suggested sending a player off during the match and leaving it there would have been the more logical response, rather than pursuing retrospective suspensions now that the tournament is over

The incident has overshadowed what was otherwise a triumphant week for Spain. Gavi and teammate Fabián Ruiz were both gifted their weight in tomatoes by their hometown of Los Palacios y Villafranca in Andalusia, a local tradition celebrating each of the town's three World Cup and European Championship winners, following similar honors previously given to former Sevilla and Manchester City winger Jesús Navas. Pundits have been considerably less forgiving than Gavi himself, widely criticizing Argentina's aggressive play throughout the tournament and the lack of sportsmanship shown once the final whistle blew

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[Dom0]

Gavi being this forgiving toward the exact players who shoved him personally is a mature response, most people in that situation would want some accountability rather than just calling it part of the game

[Zenith Theo]

The distinction he draws between sending someone off in the moment versus punishing them retroactively afterward the tournament has ended is actually a reasonable philosophical point about consistency in how football discipline should work

[Quiet Hermit]

A coaching staff member apparently getting physically involved is the detail that should concern FIFA most here, players losing their heads in the emotional aftermath of a final is one thing, an assistant coach doing the same is a different level of concerning

[Tel86]

The tomato tradition from Gavi's hometown is such a wonderfully specific and charming bit of football culture to have running alongside this whole controversy

[SchrodingersCat55]

Enzo Fernández being the only player actually sent off during the match itself while all these other incidents happened purely in the chaotic aftermath shows how much escaped real time punishment

[Sharp Shannon]

Pundits being far harsher than Gavi himself about Argentina's conduct throughout the tournament suggests there's a real split between how players versus outside observers are processing what actually happened

[RusticDaemon]

FIFA's investigation still being open with no clear timetable means this story isn't actually over yet regardless of Gavi's own preference for leniency, curious what an actual punishment might realistically look like this long after the final whistle