FIFA charges for assault against Argentina thugs in World Cup final confirmed | Football | Sport

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Paredes has been hit with three counts of assault by FIFA, while Ayala has one count of assault and one count of unsportsmanlike behaviour.

Meanwhile, Molina has been hit by two FIFA charges for assault, one count being completed and one count being attempted, as well as one count of unsporting behaviour.

There has also been one charge for the Spanish, as Barcelona midfielder Gavi was charged with one count of unsporting behaviour.

Interestingly, Gavi, who was thrown to the floor by Paredes after the Argentina grabbed Eric Garcia by the throat, encouraged FIFA not to punish the Argentina players for their post-match scuffle. He said: “I don’t think they should be sanctioned.

“I understand it’s not a good image for children, but that’s part of football. Perhaps the most logical thing would have been to send him off during the match.”

Ayala did issue an apology for his role in the chaos, which saw him grab Spain’s Dani Olmo by the next. Yet, the coach also insisted he pushed the Barcelona in “reaction to something [Olmo] said” – a claim that has been denied by Olmo.

Speaking to Valencia Capital Radio, Ayala said: “Of course I’m sorry. Given my position, ​I cannot allow a feeling, or whatever I might receive from ​the other party, to affect my mood or my actions.

“For me, we need to ​draw a line and leave it at that. It was more of a ​shove than anything else, it wasn’t a punch as they’re making it out to be. It was a reaction to something he said, but that’s it. If I see him, I’ll ​obviously apologise to him in person.”