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NICOLE SOMMA
Updated
The final between Argentina and Spain ended more than a month ago, but one of its most controversial episodes is still being talked about.
FIFA’s sanctions brought the issue back to the table, and Spain’s coach did not avoid the discussion.
Luis de la fuente made his stance on what happened clear.
De la fuente described the incidents after the match as “intolerable” and “inadmissible” and questioned how a scene like that could take place in a competition of the magnitude of a World Cup.
On the other hand, he firmly maintained that his players ended up being harmed by a situation in which, according to his version, they bore no responsibility. The phrase that summed up his stance was blunt: “Our players were victims and were harmed by that situation.”
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The FIFA Disciplinary Committee sanctioned Leandro Paredes with ten matches and Nahuel Molina with seven. Roberto Ayala received a three-match suspension and Thiago Almada, one. On the Spanish side, Gavi was punished with one match
De la fuente also spoke about Scaloni
The coach of the Spanish national team also said that he received a message from the coach of the Argentine national team after what happened. According to his explanation, the Argentine coach apologized for the incidents that occurred after the final.
Both coaches have great respect for each other and were affected by how the World Cup final and its incidents unfolded.
De la fuente added that some Argentine footballers also contacted members of the Spanish national team. Beyond the sanctions, the coach asked that these kinds of situations not happen again for the good of football.
He was forceful in delivering a message:
“Football is a unifying element of a society. Of unity, of peace, of harmony. And there are other ugly parts that are the ones that usually stand out. That is one of them. They must be made visible so that they do not happen again. They are intolerable, inadmissible.”
De la fuente
However, the controversy returned to center stage after his statements. FIFA’s sanctions reignited an episode that still generates repercussions between Argentina and Spain.
