Fresh referee-cam footage has surfaced showing the World Cup final official urging Lionel Messi to calm Leandro Paredes before the Argentina midfielder’s furious post-match confrontation.
Argentina’s meeting with Spain erupted into ugly scenes after the final whistle last month, with tempers boiling over once Spain’s status as champions was confirmed. Paredes reacted angrily, targeting Eric Garcia and Gavi amid the chaos.
The newly released clip suggests Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic had already sensed trouble, turning to Argentina captain Messi during the match and asking him to keep one of the game’s most combustible characters under control.
In audio captured by the widely praised referee camera, Vincic can be heard telling him: “Messi, control Paredes. I don’t want to… he has yellow. Control please. Always, always.”
Paredes, introduced at half-time, was shown a yellow card just six minutes after coming on. Although he avoided a red card during the match, his restraint disappeared after the final whistle.
The 32-year-old was seen grabbing Spain defender Eric Garcia by the neck, shoving Gavi to the ground and appearing to swing punches following Argentina’s defeat. He had also escaped further punishment late in normal time after a challenge that could have brought a dismissal.
New footage shows the World Cup final referee asking Lionel Messi to keep Leandro Paredes under control
FIFA has now opened disciplinary proceedings against Paredes over the incident. The midfielder is facing three assault charges, along with an additional charge for unsporting conduct.
The ref cam, meawhile, also showed the moment Vincic received his medal from Donald Trump, when he was told he did a ‘great job’.
Paredes has since returned to club action and played for Boca Juniors in their 2-2 draw at Newell’s Old Boys two weeks ago in the Argentine Primera Division – Torneo Clausura.
And during that encounter, the 32-year-old was back producing some ‘dark arts’ with one particular flashpoint.
Trailing 2-1 to the hosts, Paredes started an on-pitch melee when he appeared to deliberately kick a ball at a stricken opponent on 68 minutes.
As the player, who had just been fouled, was returning to his feet and with his back turned, Paredes booted the ball at him.
The act saw angry players from Newell’s Old Boys confront him before the referee brandished him a yellow card for his act.
Paredes had suggested he may quit international football in the aftermath of the World Cup final, telling ESPN: ‘For many, it will be the time to decide if to continue. It was a great journey. Maintaining that level – getting the group to continue to function as it has – will be very difficult, and there are many factors to consider.
Paredes lost his cool after full-time against Spain as he clashed with Eric Garcia and Gavi
‘Decisions must be taken calmly. I don’t know yet if I’m ready to continue. It’s a process that takes time to assimilate and mature.
‘It will take time to digest what we’ve been through. The pain of losing the World Cup final will stay with us for a long time, because we came so close once again. I think we played in a World Cup where people saw themselves in us, and that’s very rewarding. In that sense, I’m happy.’
His team-mate Enzo Fernandez, meanwhile received a frosty reception in his return to Chelsea duty.
There were perhaps expected boos when his name was read out before kick-off, with the World Cup runner-up starting on the bench.
But the atmosphere turned bizarre when he was introduced after an hour, with sections of the crowd booing him while others proudly sang his name. That continued when he had the ball in midfield, too, with disgruntled boos followed by encouraging chants.
Fernandez, who replaced Reece James and wore the captain’s armband for the final 30 minutes, has been stuck in a complicated situation at Chelsea since he alerted the world in March that he dreams of playing for Real Madrid. Then-manager Liam Rosenior took umbrage and dropped him for two games in response.
The feeling this summer has been that his future lies away from Stamford Bridge, but his options are limited by few clubs having the financial capacity to meet Chelsea’s valuation.
Manchester City were the front-runners, but Chelsea set suitors an unofficial deadline of 5pm Friday to make a sufficient offer as they want their squad fixed before their season opener against Fulham on August 24.
Although that deadline passed without an offer, it remains to be seen if a £120m bid between now and September 1 would test their resolve. What is for sure, though, is that Chelsea supporters do not know how to feel about it.
