LAGOS JULY 24THTH (NEWSRANGERS)-Ayala admitted that emotions got the better of him during the heated scenes that followed the final whistle. He claimed that Olmo said something to him which prompted his reaction, but acknowledged that his position as Argentina coach meant he should have maintained his composure.
The former Argentina defender also disputed the description of the incident as a punch, insisting that it was more of a push. However, he accepted responsibility for his actions and said he would apologise to Olmo personally if they meet again.
“Obviously I’m sorry. Because of my position, I can’t allow a feeling, or what I might receive from the other party, to change my mood and my actions,” Ayala said.
“It was more of a push than anything else, it wasn’t a punch like they’re saying. It was a reaction to something he said, but that’s it. If I see him, I’ll obviously apologise to him in person.”
Ayala also addressed the wider confrontation that broke out between players after the final. He explained that he initially went onto the pitch because he wanted to separate the players involved in the altercation, but admitted that the situation escalated as emotions ran high.
The Argentina coach said the scenes were regrettable and stressed that there was no excuse for his own behaviour, regardless of what may have been said to him.
“It’s a shame, and you have to accept the facts and the things you’ve done on the field,” Ayala added.
The post-match scenes reportedly involved several players from both sides. Nahuel Molina was alleged to have struck Rodri, while Leandro Paredes and Eric Garcia were also involved in the confrontation, with Gavi reportedly being knocked to the ground.
FIFA has opened an investigation into the incidents following the final, with disciplinary proceedings potentially looming over those involved.
The controversy came after Spain defeated Argentina 1–0 in extra time to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute, securing Spain’s second World Cup title and leaving Argentina to deal with a disappointing end to their campaign.
RFootball
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