Leandro Paredes escaped a red card during the recent match between Spain and Argentina despite a physical altercation with Spanish players Eric García and Gavi, according to reports from the BBC.
The incident involved Paredes striking García and then appearing to drag Gavi to the ground, initially leading to widespread belief that he had been sent off.
However, the dismissal was the result of an error within FIFA’s information system used by commentators, which incorrectly indicated Paredes had been shown a red card for grabbing García by the throat. This erroneous notification was quickly removed.
FIFA has since confirmed that no disciplinary action was taken against Paredes during the match itself, despite intervention from the assistant referee. However, the governing body has opened disciplinary proceedings to review the events that occurred after the final whistle.
Paredes currently plays for Boca Juniors, having returned to the Argentine club in 2023. He previously had spells with Paris Saint-Germain and Zenit Saint Petersburg, and has been a regular in the Argentina national team, playing a key role in their 2022 World Cup victory.
The incident has sparked debate about the consistency of officiating and the reliability of technology in football. The disciplinary proceedings initiated by FIFA will likely examine the full extent of Paredes’s actions and determine if further punishment is warranted. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining order and fairness in high-stakes international matches.
