Luis de la Fuente Condemns Argentina Players' Conduct After World Cup

Luis de la Fuente condemned what he called “intolerable, unacceptable” conduct from several Argentina players in the chaotic moments that followed Spain’s World Cup triumph on Sunday.

The celebrations at New York New Jersey Stadium had barely begun when tempers flared. As Spain’s players rejoiced in securing a second world title, Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes went after Rodri and Eric García, with Paredes also confronting Gavi amid the melee.

De la Fuente, swept up in the emotion of the victory, said he did not immediately see the clashes.

“At the time, I didn’t realise it. I was celebrating, hugging teammates,” he told Spanish television. “But in any case, it is intolerable, unacceptable, it cannot be allowed.”

The Spain coach stressed that his criticism came despite the high regard in which he holds Argentina’s squad and staff.

“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,” he said.

What angered him most was the sense that the flashpoints could have spiralled. De la Fuente highlighted what he described as “acts of aggression” and “provocations” from Argentina’s side, but reserved his strongest words of approval for his own dressing room, insisting Spain’s players showed “exemplary” restraint in the face of confrontation.

On a night when Spain reclaimed the biggest prize of all, their coach made it clear: the line, in his eyes, had been crossed long after the final whistle.