Luis De la Fuente Condemns Argentina's Unacceptable Conduct After World Cup

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 “unacceptable” conduct from several Argentina players and members of their coaching staff in the chaotic moments after the final whistle.

Spain had just edged a tense final 1-0 after extra time. As the Spanish bench poured onto the pitch in celebration, tempers flared on the other side. Some Argentina players and staff moved toward their Spanish counterparts, sparking confrontations that were quickly captured from every angle by television cameras and mobile phones.

Among those involved were Atletico Madrid defender Nahuel Molina and former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes, both seen in the post-game flashpoints that have since ricocheted around social media.

De la Fuente admitted he did not immediately grasp what was unfolding.

“At the time, I didn't realize it. I was celebrating, hugging teammates,” he told Spanish television, recalling the chaos of those first moments as world champion.

The footage he has seen since left him furious.

“In any case, it is intolerable, unacceptable, it cannot be allowed,” he said. “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.”

The Spain coach reserved his admiration for his own squad, highlighting what he described as exemplary restraint in the face of “acts of aggression” and “provocations” that, in his view, carried the risk of spiralling into something far uglier.

The images are out there, replayed and dissected, yet no formal punishment has landed on Argentina’s players so far. No suspensions. No fines. Just anger, debate and a growing sense that the fallout from New York is far from over.

FIFA has now stepped in. Football’s world governing body has opened an investigation to determine whether Argentina’s players or staff breached its disciplinary code during those heated post-match scenes.

The trophy has been lifted, the confetti cleared, the celebrations moved on. But the next decisive move may come not on the pitch, but in a FIFA hearing room, where the governing body must decide how far a World Cup final can boil over before the game itself draws a line.