VIDEO | Ratón Ayala's shock punch on Dani Olmo after the final whistle | OneFootball

The 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey did not end with the final whistle. While coach Lionel Scaloni and his assistant Walter Samuel tried to calm the Argentine players — who reacted vehemently to provocations from the Spanish national team — tension boiled over in the center circle, leaving physical altercations and one player sent off.

“Ratón” Ayala’s unexpected reaction

One of the most serious moments of the widespread brawl involved Roberto Fabián Ayala. The member of Argentina’s coaching staff reacted violently to La Roja’s celebrations, lunging at Dani Olmo. After grabbing his shirt, “Ratón” punched Spain’s number 10 in the face, catching him by surprise and leaving him unable to protect himself. The clash did not escalate further thanks to the intervention of defender Eric García, who stepped in to separate them amid the chaos.

Paredes sparked the chaos and Gavi ended up on the ground

The Argentine players’ fury was also channeled through Leandro Paredes. As soon as the match ended, the Boca Juniors midfielder confronted Eric García, knocking him down with a shove and then grabbing him by the neck as he tried to get back up. Spanish midfielder Gavi tried to intervene in the dispute, but ended up being shaken and thrown to the turf by Paredes himself.

As a result of this violent incident, Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić showed the Argentine midfielder a straight red card. Although the initial referee’s report did not mention Ayala’s punch on Olmo, it is not ruled out that the assistant coach could be sanctioned retroactively if authorities review security camera footage and the broadcast.

Dani Olmo’s response in the mixed zone

Minutes later, in the press area, Dani Olmo chose not to make any specific comments about the punch he received from Ayala. However, the La Roja player delivered sharp criticism of the Argentine delegation for leaving the field and turning their backs during the awards ceremony.

“We don’t care. In the end, what matters are the values you want to project to the outside world. We are an example for many generations, for many boys and girls. I believe they should also be an example in every way, and a positive one,”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.