Spain midfielder Gavi surprisingly advocated for Argentina’s Leandro Paredes to avoid a suspension for the role he played in the heated confrontation between the World Cup finalists at MetLife Stadium.
Nearly as soon as the final whistle crowned La Roja the new world champion on Sunday, a brawl broke out under the blaring sun in East Rutherford, N.J., souring Spain’s short-lived celebrations. Paredes was at the center of the confrontation, going after Eric García and then Gavi, who was previously thrown to the ground by Thiago Almada.
