Argentina's assistant coach, Roberto Ayala, has sought to minimize his involvement in post-match altercations following the World Cup final, stating that his confrontation with a Spanish player was "more of a push than anything else."

FIFA has initiated an investigation into the conduct of Argentina's players after they were involved in several scuffles with Spain's squad immediately following the final, which Spain won 1-0. The incidents occurred after Argentina had lost their chance to retain the title they won in 2022.

Reports indicate that during the heated exchanges, Argentinian players Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina engaged with Spanish players Eric Garcia, Gavi, and Rodri. Paredes was seen grabbing Garcia by the throat and pushing Gavi, while Molina reportedly struck Rodri. Ayala himself was observed holding Garcia by the throat before appearing to make contact with Dani Olmo.

Ayala addressed the incidents for the first time, speaking on Valencia Capital Radio. "Obviously I’m sorry," he stated. "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. For me, things need to be put behind us and left there."

He clarified his interaction with Olmo, insisting, "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 also commented on the broader context of the post-match scene, calling it a "shame" and acknowledging that emotions ran high. "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," he said. "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's disciplinary committee has appointed a prosecutor to investigate potential breaches of the FIFA Disciplinary Code related to the post-match events. The committee stated that further details would be released upon completion of the prosecutor's report.

Despite the controversy, Spanish midfielder Gavi, who was pushed by Paredes, offered a surprising defense of the Argentinian players. "I understand it's not a good image for children, but I think there's also that side to football, which is a bit more physical, more aggressive," Gavi reportedly said during Spain's celebrations. "The most logical thing would have been to send him off during the match, and that's it. In the end, I think it's all football, and it has to be that way."