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 staff in the chaotic aftermath of the World Cup final in New York.
Spain edged a tense final 1-0 after extra time last Sunday, a result that sparked wild celebrations on one side and boiling frustration on the other. As the final whistle sounded, tempers flared. Some Argentina players and members of Lionel Scaloni’s coaching team confronted their Spanish counterparts on the pitch, turning a historic night into an ugly spectacle.
Among those involved were Atletico Madrid defender Nahuel Molina and former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes, both seen in the footage that quickly spread across social media. The images showed pushing, shouting, and face-to-face altercations as officials and players tried to pull people away.
De la Fuente admitted he did not immediately grasp what was unfolding around him.
“At the time, I didn't realize it. I was celebrating, hugging teammates,” he told Spanish television. The joy of a world title had briefly shielded him from the storm breaking out a few yards away.
Once he saw the scenes back, his tone hardened.
“In any case, it is intolerable, unacceptable, it cannot be allowed,” he said. He stressed that he had spoken highly of Argentina and their stars before the final and still respected their footballing quality and their coach. That, he suggested, made the behavior even more disappointing.
“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,” he added.
The Spain coach reserved his warmest words for his own squad. He highlighted what he described as exemplary restraint in the face of “acts of aggression” and “provocations” that, in his view, could easily have spiralled into something far worse on such a high-stakes night.
The world governing body has already stepped in. FIFA has opened a formal investigation into the incidents to assess whether Argentina’s players and staff breached its disciplinary code. The videos are everywhere, but as things stand there have been no sanctions, no suspensions, no fines.
That leaves one of the defining images of this World Cup not a goal, a save or a trophy lift, but a confrontation on the touchline — and a lingering question over how the sport chooses to punish its biggest stars when the pressure boils over.
