The World Cup final in New York saw chaotic scenes unfold after the final whistle, following Spain‘s 1-0 victory over Argentina. The match, which ended Argentina‘s hopes of retaining their global title, culminated in several confrontations between players from both teams on the pitch.
As the referee, Slavko Vincic, blew the final whistle, Spain‘s substitutes rushed onto the pitch to celebrate their championship win. Amidst the celebrations, altercations quickly erupted between players.
Post-Match Confrontations
One of the initial incidents involved Argentina‘s right-back, Nahuel Molina, who was seen striking Spain‘s captain, Rodri, near the halfway line. Molina aggressively threw his arm out at Rodri, who then turned to confront Molina. The two players squared up to each other as their teammates initially remained unaware of the developing situation.
The tension escalated further when Spain‘s Eric Garcia intervened. Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes then sprinted across the pitch and attacked Garcia, sending him to the ground. A linesman attempted to separate the players, but Paredes continued his aggression, grabbing Garcia by the throat after he had gotten back up. Argentina‘s coaching staff, including head coach Lionel Scaloni, surrounded Garcia to protect him from his own teammate.
Paredes then turned his attention to Spain‘s 21-year-old midfielder Gavi. Paredes, along with Argentina substitute Thiago Almada, pushed and pulled Gavi, tearing his training bib. Gavi fell to the ground and was reportedly thrown down again by Paredes as he tried to get up. Several of Gavi‘s Spanish teammates, including Borja Iglesias, stepped in to shield him.
Video footage also reportedly showed Argentina assistant coach Daniel Ayala striking Spain midfielder Dani Olmo during the post-match melee.
Disciplinary Actions and Reactions
Following the chaotic scenes, Leandro Paredes was sent off after the final whistle. FIFA is set to investigate the post-match incidents to determine whether further disciplinary action will be taken against Argentina. The governing body’s Disciplinary Code stipulates that players sent off for violent conduct will face a suspension of at least three matches.
The post-match altercations also led to a heated confrontation between Argentina‘s veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi and his former Manchester City teammate Rodri. Otamendi accused Rodri and Aymeric Laporte of influencing the referee by complaining about officiating throughout the World Cup. Laporte had previously questioned the integrity of refereeing decisions, particularly concerning the aggressive tactics employed by some teams, including Argentina.
The match itself saw Argentina‘s ambitions of retaining their title end in a narrow 1-0 defeat. Lionel Scaloni‘s side struggled offensively, failing to register a single shot on target during normal time. Their task became more challenging when Enzo Fernandez was dismissed in the 93rd minute for a second bookable offense.
Pundits widely condemned Argentina‘s post-match behavior. Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart described it as “disgusting,” while Gary Neville called it “a disgrace.” Alan Shearer noted that there is no place for such actions, emphasizing that while losing hurts, there is a proper way to lose. Hart also highlighted that Lionel Messi, who shook hands with the Spanish players, was the only one on the pitch who showed class amidst the chaos.
Spain‘s victory marked their second World Cup title in the country’s history. The European champions were considered deserved winners, having dominated the final. Messi, who was playing in his final World Cup, was visibly emotional after the defeat, watching the Argentina fans while tears rolled down his face. He later led his teammates to collect their runners-up medals before quickly leaving the pitch.
In another notable moment during the medal ceremony, Argentina centre-back Cristian Romero reportedly snubbed a handshake from Donald Trump, who was presenting the medals. Romero shook hands with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum, but not with Trump.
FIFA‘s investigation into the post-match scenes will determine any further sanctions for Argentina.
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Source: theguardian.com
