The Spain-Georgia match held relative importance, securing a top-seed status with the eventual 3-1 victory. However, the pivotal moment occurred with Gavi, the Barcelona midfielder, suffering an official anterior cruciate ligament rupture—a serious injury likely to sideline him for a considerable duration, possibly ending his season.
The aftermath of Gavi’s injury has stirred controversy, with Barcelona expressing displeasure toward coach Luis De la Fuente for fielding Gavi for the second consecutive time with Roja, despite concerns from other quarters. The repercussions of this decision are poised to hit FIFA’s coffers hard, with a compensation clause of €20,458 per day of absence, capped at €7,500,000.
As calculated by Mundo Deportivo, for a six-month absence, FIFA would owe Barcelona a little over three million euros. If the injury sidelines Gavi for eight months, the compensation would amount to approximately €4.3 million, providing a bittersweet consolation for the Catalan club.
Gavi’s injury not only deals a blow to Barcelona’s midfield dynamics but also presents financial implications that FIFA will need to address. The significant compensation serves as a reminder of the financial stakes involved when international players sustain injuries during official matches.
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