Off the PitchDaily Mail FootballUnverified source· 16 Aug 2026
Ref begged Messi to control Paredes before World Cup final chaos
New footage shows the referee pleading with Messi to calm Paredes before his violent post-match outburst.
L. Paredes
player
Who
Leandro Paredes
What
Attacked Eric Garcia and Gavi after full-time
When
World Cup final last month
Where
World Cup final
What happened. Leandro Paredes lost his cool after Argentina's World Cup final defeat, attacking Eric Garcia and Gavi, and now faces disciplinary proceedings from FIFA.
- Referee Slavko Vincic asked Messi to control Paredes during the game.
- Paredes was booked six minutes after coming on at half-time.
- He recently caused a melee in a Boca Juniors match.
“Messi, control Paredes. I don't want to... he has yellow. Control please. Always, always.”
— Slavko Vincic
FIFA has launched disciplinary proceedings against Paredes for the incident, with three counts of assault and unsporting behaviour.
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