NEW DELHI: Argentina assistant Roberto Ayala has apologized for his altercation with Spain midfielder Dani Olmo after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, admitting his actions were unacceptable. The ugly scenes unfolded after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time on Sunday to lift the World Cup title. FIFA has since launched an investigation into the post-match brawl.
Chaos after the final whistle
Tensions flared immediately after the final whistle as players and staff from both teams were involved in heated clashes.Spain captain Rodri was seen arguing with Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi. Leandro Paredes was shown a red card after punching Gavi, who had entered the field to celebrate Spain’s victory.Ayala also participated in the incident. Television footage showed the former Argentina defender approaching Dani Olmo before making contact with the Spanish midfielder. Olmo chose not to return.
Ayala apologizes for his actions
Speaking after the incident, Ayala admitted he had made a mistake and said he regrets losing control.“Obviously I’m sorry. Because of my position, I can’t allow a feeling, or what I could receive from the other party, to change my mood and my actions. I’m sorry, but for me, these are things that stay here and that’s it,” Ayala said in an interview with Valencia Capital Radio.“For me, things have to be put behind us and left there. It was more of a push than anything else, it wasn’t a punch as they say, and that’s it. It was a reaction to something he said, but that’s it. If I saw it, I’d obviously apologize to him in person,” he said.Ayala said that emotions got the best of him during the chaotic scenes and accepted full responsibility for his behavior.“It’s a shame, and you have to accept the facts and the things you did on the field. When the game ends, what I see is a fight in the middle of the field, and we press to go after our players, and it ends like that because it’s not who we are,” he said.He added that his original intention was to stop the confrontation rather than become part of it.“I take responsibility for what I did. My intention was to go and separate, that was my intention, but sometimes things happen and emotions are high, but that’s no excuse. And given my position, my behavior must be different, regardless of what I receive,” he said.FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings into the post-match brawl.The governing body’s disciplinary committee has appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to investigate incidents involving players and coaching staff.