Ugly scenes marred the end of the World Cup final as Argentina's Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina were seen throwing punches at Spain players after their 1-0 defeat. Paredes was sent off after shoving Spain's Eric García by the throat and wrestling Gavi to the ground. He had already been booked during the match.
Broadcasters condemn Argentina's behaviour
The antics after the final whistle were quickly condemned by UK broadcasters. Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart labelled Argentina's behaviour 'disgusting' on the BBC, while ITV's Gary Neville called it 'a disgrace'.
Context of the match
Lionel Messi’s World Cup fairytale ended with a pitiful Argentina performance as they lost to Spain. The match was billed as a clash of superstars, but Spain's team effort prevailed. Spain's coach De la Fuente lauded his players, saying 'We had a date with destiny'.
Impact and aftermath
The violent scenes have overshadowed Spain's victory and drawn widespread criticism. Paredes' actions, including the throat shove and wrestling tackle, were highlighted as particularly egregious. The incident adds a sour note to what was otherwise a celebrated tournament.
