Referee's plea to Messi over Paredes before World Cup final chaos

New footage has surfaced showing World Cup final referee Slavko Vincic urging Lionel Messi to "control" Leandro Paredes prior to his aggressive outburst at full-time.

The match between Argentina and Spain descended into turmoil after the final whistle last month, when Paredes lost his temper and confronted Eric Garcia and Gavi following Spain's victory.

It has now come to light that Vincic had implored Argentina's captain Messi earlier in the match to manage one of football's most volatile players. In footage from the referee cam, Vincic can be heard stating: "Messi, control Paredes. I don't want to... he has yellow. Control please. Always, always."

The midfielder, who entered the game at half-time and was booked six minutes later, managed to finish the match but then erupted in anger. The 32-year-old grabbed defender Eric Garcia by the neck, pushed Gavi, and appeared to throw punches after Argentina's defeat. He was also fortunate not to receive a red card towards the end of normal time for a foul.

FIFA has since initiated disciplinary action against Paredes for the unsavoury incidents, facing three counts of assault along with a charge of unsporting behaviour.

The referee cam also captured the moment Vincic received his medal from Donald Trump, who remarked that he had done a "great job."

Paredes has since returned to club football, playing for Boca Juniors in their 2-2 draw against Newell's Old Boys two weeks ago in the Argentine Primera Division – Torneo Clausura. During that match, Paredes was involved in another controversial incident when he instigated an on-field altercation by seemingly kicking a ball at an opponent who was on the ground.

As the player, who had just been fouled, was getting back to his feet and had his back turned, Paredes kicked the ball at him. This prompted angry players from Newell's Old Boys to confront him, leading the referee to issue a yellow card for his actions.

In the aftermath of the World Cup final, Paredes hinted at the possibility of stepping back from international football, 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."

He continued, "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."

Meanwhile, his team-mate Enzo Fernandez faced a mixed reception upon his return to Chelsea. There were expected boos when his name was announced before kick-off, as the World Cup runner-up started on the bench. The atmosphere turned peculiar when he was substituted on after an hour, with sections of the crowd booing while others sang his name. This continued as he had the ball in midfield, alternating between disgruntled boos and encouraging chants.

Fernandez, who replaced Reece James and wore the captain's armband for the final 30 minutes, has found himself in a complicated situation at Chelsea since he expressed his desire to play for Real Madrid in March. Former manager Liam Rosenior responded by dropping him for two matches.

This summer, speculation has suggested his future may lie away from Stamford Bridge, although few clubs possess the financial means to meet Chelsea's asking price. Manchester City were seen as the frontrunners, but Chelsea set an unofficial deadline of 5pm Friday for potential suitors to make a suitable offer, as they wish to resolve their squad before the season opener against Fulham on August 24.

Although that deadline has passed without an offer, it remains to be seen if a £120m bid before September 1 would challenge their resolve. What is clear, however, is that Chelsea supporters are uncertain about the situation.

Source: Mail Online