Luis De la Fuente Condemns Intolerable Behavior After World Cup Final
Luis De la Fuente did not bother to soften his words.
Days after Spain’s World Cup triumph over Argentina in New York, the national team coach has condemned what he called “intolerable” and “unacceptable” behavior from several Argentina players and members of their coaching staff in the chaotic moments after the final whistle.
Spain had just sealed a 1-0 victory after extra time on Sunday, a win that should have been remembered purely for footballing drama. Instead, the post-match scenes have dragged the occasion into disciplinary territory.
Tension after the final whistle
As the Spanish players celebrated, sections of the Argentina squad and staff moved toward their rivals. There were confrontations, angry gestures, and flashpoints that quickly spread across social media once the footage emerged.
Among those involved were Atletico Madrid defender Nahuel Molina and former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes, both clearly visible in the images that circulated worldwide.
De la Fuente, speaking to Spanish television, admitted he did not grasp the full extent of the incident in real time.
“At the time, I didn't realize it. I was celebrating, hugging teammates,” he said.
Only later, once he had seen the images, did his tone harden.
“It is intolerable, unacceptable, it cannot be allowed,” he insisted. “Players of that stature, whom I praised in the days leading up to the match and continue to praise, who are great players with a tremendous coach, surely they must have felt just as bad as we did seeing those reactions.”
Spain’s restraint and FIFA’s response
While the temperature rose around them, Spain’s players largely kept their distance. De la Fuente highlighted that composure, calling their reaction “exemplary” in the face of what he described as “acts of aggression” and “provocations” that, in his view, carried the risk of spiralling into something far worse.
The pressure finally shifted from the pitch to the corridors of power. Despite the widespread footage and public debate, no sanctions have yet been imposed on the Argentina players or staff involved.
FIFA has now opened a formal investigation into the incidents to assess whether there were breaches of its disciplinary code. The governing body will sift through the images, the reports, and the testimonies before deciding whether this World Cup final will leave not only a sporting legacy, but a legal one too.
