Spain's Olmo says Argentina assistant lied about punch

Spain’s World Cup victory has been overshadowed by a bitter dispute over post-match violence, with midfielder Dani Olmo accusing Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala of lying about an altercation between them. The incident occurred after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026.

The match was followed by chaotic scenes involving players and staff from both teams. Video footage showed Ayala raising his hands and striking Olmo in the neck area, sending the Barcelona player backwards. Other Argentina players, including Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina, were also involved in physical confrontations with Spanish players.

In the days following the final, Ayala issued a public apology but downplayed the severity of his actions. He described the contact as "more of a push than a punch" and claimed it was "a reaction to something he said," referring to Olmo. Ayala stated he was sorry and that, given his position, his behavior should have been different. He added that his intention had been to separate players and that he would apologize to Olmo in person if he saw him.

Olmo has now publicly rejected that apology and...