‘I’m sorry’: Why Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala apologized after World Cup final

NEW DELHI: Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala has apologized for an altercation with Spain midfielder Dani Olmo after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, admitting his actions were unacceptable. The ugly scenes unfolded after Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time on Sunday to lift the World Cup. FIFA has since launched an investigation into the post-match brawl.

Chaos after the final whistle

Tensions boiled over immediately after the final whistle as players and staff from both teams got into heated confrontations.Spain captain Rodri was seen arguing with Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi. Leandro Paredes was shown a red card after punching Gavi, who ran onto the pitch to celebrate Spain’s victory.Ayala was also involved in the incident. Television footage showed the former Argentina defender closing in on Dani Olmo before making contact with the Spain midfielder. Olmo decided not to retaliate.

Ayala apologizes for her actions

After the incident, Ayala admitted he made a mistake and said he regretted losing control.“Of course I’m sorry. Because of my position, I can’t let any feeling or what I might get from the other side change my mood and my actions. I’m sorry, but for me those are the things that stay there and that’s all,” Ayala said in an interview with Valencia Capital Radio.“For me, you need to put things behind you and leave them there. It was more of a crush than anything else, it wasn’t a punch as they say and that’s it. It was a reaction to something he said, but that’s all. If I see him, of course I’ll apologize to him in person,” he said.Ayala said he was overcome with emotion during the chaotic scenes and took full responsibility for his behavior.“It’s a shame and you have to accept the facts and the things you did on the pitch. When the game ends, what I see is a fight in the middle of the pitch and we rush to go after our players and it ends up like that because we’re not,” he said.He added that his original intention was to stop the confrontation rather than become part of it.“I take responsibility for what I did. My intention was to go and separate them, that was my intention, but sometimes things happen and emotions fly, but that’s no excuse. And given my position, my behavior has to be different, regardless of what I get,” he said.FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings over the post-match brawl.The governing body’s disciplinary committee appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to investigate incidents involving players and coaching staff.