Argentina coach Roberto Ayala has apologised for punching Spain star Dani Olmo in the chaotic scenes after the World Cup final, explaining he reacted to ‘something he said’ after the final whistle.
Spain won their second World Cup thanks to Ferran Torres’ extra-time strike in New Jersey on Sunday.
But there were disgraceful scenes immediately after the final whistle as Argentina players lost control.
Spain skipper Rodri was dragged into a verbal altercation with Nicolas Otamendi, while Leandro Paredes was given a red card after the final whistle for striking Gavi as he ran on to the pitch to celebrate with his teammates.
Get personalised football updates every day
Sign up to our daily football newsletter and choose your team to get the latest news, rumours and more direct to your inbox every morning.
Ayala, a former Argentina international who spent over half his club career playing in Spain, was also involved in scraps kicking off all across the pitch. The 53-year-old was spotted approaching Olmo and hitting him in the face with the Barcelona star showing considerable restraint in not reacting.
Ayala has now spoken out on the incident, insisting it was ‘more of a push than anything else’ on Olmo which was a ‘reaction to something he said’. But the defender went on to apologise for his actions, explaining he will also apologise to Olmo directly if the chance presents itself.
‘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. I’m sorry, but for me, these are things that stay there and that’s it,’ Ayala said in an interview with Esports Migdia on Valencia Capital Radio.
‘For me, things need to be put behind us and left there. It was more of a push than anything else, it wasn’t a punch like they’re saying, and that’s it. 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 went on to explain he went onto the pitch with the intention of calming the players who were losing their cool before being dragged into the drama himself.
‘It’s a shame, and you have to accept the facts and the things you’ve done on the field,’ Ayala said.
‘When the game ends, what I see is a fight in the middle of the pitch, and we rush to go after our players, and it ends up like that because that’s not who we are.
‘I take responsibility for what I did. My intention was to go and separate them, that was my intention, but sometimes things happen and emotions run high, but that’s no excuse. And given my position, my behaviour has to be different, regardless of what I receive.’
FIFA have confirmed there will be an investigation into Argentina’s behaviour after Sunday’s final.
World football’s governing body has already begun the process of potential disciplinary action against the nation after players held aloft a banner referencing the Falkland Islands after beating England in the semi-finals.