De la Fuente criticizes Argentina players' behavior after World Cup final

Spain's national team coach Luis de la Fuente has strongly criticized the actions of some Argentine players following the 2026 World Cup final, describing the incident as "unacceptable and intolerable." This comes after the events that unfolded on the pitch following Spain's victory.

De La Fuente explained that he didn't realize what had happened at the moment due to his celebration with the players, but he later stated: "What happened was unacceptable and should never be allowed. These are great players whom I praised before the match, and I still hold them in high regard. I believe they felt bad too when they saw those actions."

The end of the match saw altercations from Nahuel Molina against Rodri, and Leandro Paredes against Eric Garcia. Paredes also confronted Gavi, in scenes that sparked widespread controversy and circulated across social media.

The Spain coach praised his players' reaction, affirming that they handled what he described as "acts of aggression and provocation" with calmness and responsibility, noting that the situation could have escalated into more serious events were it not for the restraint shown by his players.

Despite the circulation of videos documenting the incident, no sanctions have yet been imposed on the Argentina players. FIFA has opened an official investigation to determine whether these actions constitute a violation of disciplinary regulations.