De la Fuente condemns Argentina conduct after final

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has condemned the behaviour of several Argentina players in the immediate aftermath of the World Cup final, describing the scenes as “intolerable” and “unacceptable”.

De la Fuente criticises post-final incidents

The Spain manager said he was not fully aware of what had happened in the moment because he was celebrating with his players after Spain’s World Cup triumph. Once the incidents became clear, however, he delivered a strong rebuke of Argentina’s conduct.

De la Fuente said actions of that kind could not be accepted, particularly given the stature of the players involved. He also stressed that he had spoken highly of Argentina’s squad before the match and maintained his respect for their quality and for their coach, even while condemning the reactions that followed the final whistle.

Players involved in the confrontation

According to the source material, Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes were at the centre of the incidents at New York New Jersey Stadium as Spain’s players celebrated. Molina confronted Rodri, while Paredes went at Eric García and also challenged Gavi.

De la Fuente praised the response of his own players, saying they behaved in an exemplary manner despite what he described as acts of aggression and provocation. In his view, the restraint shown by Spain helped prevent the situation from becoming even more serious.

Fifa investigation remains open

The scenes were recorded and circulated widely on social media, but no sanctions have yet been announced against the Argentina players involved. Fifa has opened an investigation to establish whether any part of its disciplinary code was breached.

That leaves the matter unresolved for now, with the governing body still assessing the evidence from the aftermath of one of the biggest matches in international football. De la Fuente’s comments, though, underline the strength of feeling within the Spain camp over what took place once the final had ended.

Spain manager backs his own squad’s response

While his criticism of Argentina was direct, De la Fuente also used the moment to highlight the composure shown by his players. For the Spain coach, that reaction mattered as much as the confrontation itself, because it ensured the celebrations were not overshadowed by a wider escalation.

The episode now sits in Fifa’s hands, but De la Fuente has made clear that, from Spain’s perspective, the behaviour seen after the World Cup final crossed a line.