Luis de la Fuente Condemns Argentina's Conduct After World Cup Final
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has condemned what he called the “unacceptable” conduct of several Argentina players and coaches in the ugly scenes that followed the World Cup final in New York.
Spain had just edged a tense final 1-0 after extra time last Sunday when tempers flared at the whistle. Argentina players and staff moved toward their Spanish counterparts, with confrontations spilling onto the pitch in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.
Among those involved were Atletico Madrid defender Nahuel Molina and former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes, both seen in footage that has since been widely circulated on social media.
De la Fuente admitted he did not grasp the scale of the flashpoints in the moment.
“At the time, I didn't realize it. I was celebrating, hugging teammates,” he told Spanish television.
The tone changed quickly, though, as he reflected on what he had since seen.
“In any case, it is intolerable, unacceptable, it cannot be allowed,” he said. “Players of that stature, whom I praised in the days leading up to the match and continue to praise, who are great players with a tremendous coach, surely they must have felt just as bad as we did seeing those reactions.”
The Spain coach reserved his strongest approval for his own squad. He highlighted what he described as their exemplary restraint in the face of “acts of aggression” and “provocations,” insisting that a different response could have turned a volatile situation into something far more serious.
The images from the touchline and pitch have sparked debate but, so far, no formal punishment. Despite the clashes being clearly captured and shared across platforms, no Argentina player has yet been sanctioned.
FIFA has now opened an investigation into the incidents, seeking to establish whether Argentina’s players or staff breached the world governing body’s disciplinary code. The governing body’s verdict will decide whether those chaotic final moments in New York leave a lasting mark on Argentina’s World Cup campaign beyond the pain of defeat.
