Intolerable and unacceptable: Spain coach drives Argentina to World Cup final
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has strongly condemned Argentina’s behavior following a heated row that broke out after the 2026 World Cup final, calling the behavior of the South American players “intolerable and unacceptable”.
The coach of the World Cup winner broke his silence a few days later Spain’s 1-0 win over Argentina in Sunday’s final he descended into chaos at the final whistle. The incident has since prompted FIFA to appoint a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to investigate the brawl.
The confrontation began when Argentinian midfielder Leandro Paredes clashed with several Spain playersincluding Eric Garcia and Gavi, moments after the final whistle. Tempers quickly flared as players from both teams engaged before the coaching staff and officials intervened to separate them. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni tried to calm his players down during the altercation.
FROM SOURCES CONDEMN CONDUCT
In an interview with Spanish public broadcaster TVE, De la Fuente expressed his disappointment at the performance of Argentina’s players, especially after praising the reigning world champions ahead of the final.
“I find it intolerable and unacceptable from players of this caliber who I praised in the days before and who have a great coach,” De la Fuente said.
The 64-year-old also praised his own players for avoiding further escalation despite what he described as provocation from the opposition.
“I want to highlight our behavior in the face of this kind of aggression and provocation. Our players always kept calm and behaved like true professionals,” he added.
AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY BY FIFA
The ugly scenes caught the attention of FIFA, with the world governing body appointing a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to investigate the incident and decide whether further action should be taken.
While FIFA has yet to announce any sanctions, the investigation could lead to disciplinary action against those involved in the post-match brawl.
Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala has already apologized for his role in the confrontation earlier this week, admitting that emotions got the better of those involved after the defeat.
Reuters has contacted the Argentine Football Association for comment on De la Fuente’s comments.
OUTLOOK UNTIL 2030
Despite the controversy surrounding Spain’s World Cup triumph, De la Fuente also looked to the future, saying that leading his country to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Spain will co-host, would represent the pinnacle of his coaching career.
“The biggest source of pride for any coach,” De la Fuente said when asked about the prospect of managing Spain on home soil in their centenary World Cup.
De la Fuente’s Spain completed a remarkable cycle by adding the 2026 World Cup title to the European Championship they won in 2024, cementing their place among international football’s dominant teams. However, the celebrations continued to be overshadowed by the scenes that unfolded after the final whistle.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
24 Jul 2026 21:52 IST