Revealed: World Cup final referee’s plea to Lionel Messi to ‘control’ Argentina star Leandro Paredes before shameful full-time scenes – as new footage shows the moment he receives a medal from Donald Trump
New footage has emerged of World Cup final referee begging Lionel Messi to ‘control’ Leandro Paredes before his violent outburst at full-time.
The game between Argentina and Spain descended into chaos after the final whistle last month, when Paredes lost his cool and launched an attack on Eric Garcia and Gavi after Spain were confirmed as champions.
Now, it has emerged that referee, Slavko Vincic of Slovenia, had pleaded with Argentina captain Messi earlier in the game to control one of football’s biggest hot heads.
In footage shared from the successful referee cam, Vincic can be heard saying: ‘Messi, control Paredes. I don’t want to… he has yellow. Control please. Always, always.’
The midfielder, who was brought on at half-time and booked six minutes later, made it to full-time, but then lost his cool.
The 32-year-old grabbed defender Eric Garcia by the neck, pushed over Gavi and also appeared to throw punches after Argentina’s defeat. He was also fortunate not to be sent off towards the end of normal time for a foul.
Footage has emerged of the World Cup final referee pleading with Lionel Messi to ‘control’ Leandro Paredes
FIFA has since launched disciplinary proceedings against Paredes for the unsavoury scenes – he faces three counts of assault as well as a charge of unsporting behaviour.
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.
