Spain’s Dani Olmo has publicly rejected the apology of Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala after a physical confrontation between the two marred the aftermath of the World Cup final last week.
Ayala was seen forcefully shoving Olmo—hands near the Spaniard’s neck—during the heated post-match scenes following Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina. While Ayala later told Valencia Capital Radio that he was “sorry” and downplayed the incident as “more of a shove than anything else,” he also claimed it was a reaction to something Olmo said on the pitch.
Olmo, however, dismissed Ayala’s version of events in an interview with Diari de Terrassa. “Someone who says they’re sorry but justifies a punch by saying it was a response to a comment is surely not sorry because he is lying,” Olmo stated. “I didn’t say anything to him, so he doesn’t need to apologise. What truly defines us is not the mistake, but the courage to acknowledge it with humility, honesty and dignity.”
FIFA has launched an investigation into the post-match altercation, which also involved other players, including Argentina’s Leandro Paredes confronting several Spanish team members.
Olmo emphasized the importance of professionalism, saying, “I want my children, my family, and all those fans to be proud of how we competed, how we won, and above all, of our behavior… us players are an example for children and the new generations, and that brings with it a huge responsibility.”
The 28-year-old Barcelona midfielder played a pivotal role in Spain’s World Cup win, starting six of eight matches and providing two assists.
