When the Spaniards started celebrating the title of the most important football competition, Leandro Paredes was the hottest among the Argentinians who grabbed their opponents by the collar.
Video cameras did not show everything live, and after the match, a message about a red card for L. Paredes was displayed in the FIFA system.
However, the Argentinian did not actually receive it.
As FIFA confirmed to the BBC, there was an error after the match – the red card appeared in the commentators’ systems, but corrections were later made and this penalty was removed.
However, this does not mean that L. Paredes will avoid penalties.
FIFA announced on Monday that it would investigate the outbreak of aggression in its disciplinary committees.
Other Argentinians may also face penalties.
Videos show that Nahuel Molina started the conflict.
The Argentina national team and Atletico Madrid defender was the first to strike when, as Spanish footballers ran past him to celebrate, he hit Rodri in the chest with his right hand.
The captain of the Spanish national team stopped and turned to clarify the situation.
N. Molina did not back down and continued the attack, standing almost head to head.
Rodri, recognized as the best player of the tournament, received support – Eric Garcia rushed to defend his teammate.
However, the conflict did not subside, as N. Molina did not back down, and Leandro Paredes heated up the events.
This Argentinian grabbed E. Garcia by the neck and knocked the “Barcelona” defender to the ground.
Although the referees tried to restrain the players, the conflict continued – Spain national team player Gavi also got involved, pushing L. Paredes in the chest, who responded by grabbing his opponent and knocking him to the ground.
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni and his assistant were also active in the whirlwind of events, running up and trying to push E. Garcia away. More players participated in the conflict, but not all.
Argentina team leader Lionel Messi watched the events from a distance.
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Some Spanish national team players, like Dani Olmo and Nico Williams, initially didn’t even see the scuffle, as they were celebrating victory in each other’s embrace at the time. Lamine Yamal also didn’t see it – the Spanish national team talent was kneeling with his eyes closed.
Nicolas Otamendi also remained on the sidelines this time, although this Argentinian previously did not miss similar incidents.
N. Otamendi, who appeared on the field in the second half, had been clinging to Rodri earlier in the heat of the final.
“Talk less, idiot. Because you’ve been crying all week. You and Laporte (Spain national team defender Aymeric Laporte). We don’t act like that. You constantly complain to the referees,” the Argentina national team veteran complained.
Rodri replied that he expects mutual respect.
To this, N. Otamendi replied: “But you shouldn’t talk before the match, understand?”
Rodri asked: “What did I say?”
“And Laporte? Didn’t you hear what Laporte said this week?” N. Otamendi continued, likely holding grudges over the Spanish national team defender’s pre-final comments to the “Marca” newspaper about Argentina’s aggressive play.
After the final, it took a few minutes for passions to cool down.
Then it was already seen that L. Paredes casually greeted Pedri and Rodri.
Later, during the greeting ceremony after returning to Spain, Gavi stated that he did not think the Argentinians would receive penalties, as they were not necessary.
“I understand that it wasn’t a good sight for children, but that’s part of football, sometimes it’s rougher,” said the 21-year-old Spanish national team player. “It would probably have been most logical to remove him from the field during the match. But, as I said, that’s football.”
L. Paredes will probably be punished. “L’Equipe” believes that the “Boca Juniors” footballer, who previously represented “Paris Saint Germain”, will be punished with at least a two-match disqualification according to the FIFA disciplinary code.
The Argentina national team should avoid a general penalty for the incident, as well as for violating media communication procedures – after the final, Argentinian footballers did not stop in the “mix zone” designated for interviews.
