The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 3 plus 3 letter word RUN INS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
R
U
N
I
N
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "spats" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case spats = run ins.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does RUN INS mean?
RUN INS noun- An encounter; a scrape or brush, especially one involving trouble or difficulty.
- The end-phase of a competition.