Spain midfielder, Dani Olmo, has responded to Argentina’s assistant coach, Roberto Ayala, following their altercation during the 2026 World Cup final.
Ayala had previously asserted that he merely shoved Olmo, rather than punched him.
In an interview with Diari de Terrassa, Olmo firmly stated that Ayala is not being truthful. He further expressed that an apology holds no significance when individuals refuse to admit their mistakes, stating (via SPORTbible), “An individual who claims to be sorry but justifies a punch as a reaction to a comment is certainly not sincere in their apology, as they are deceiving themselves. I did not provoke him, so there is no need for him to apologize.
“What truly characterizes us is not the error itself, but the bravery to admit it with humility, honesty, and dignity, especially when my children, my family, and all the fans are watching the game.”
Following the 2026 final between Argentina and Spain, there were several incidents, one of which involved Dani Olmo and Ayala. The Argentine assistant coach seemed to have made contact with Olmo’s neck during their altercation.
While Ayala maintained it was merely a shove, Olmo contended that the coach punched him in the neck. Nevertheless, FIFA has announced that they are investigating multiple post-match incidents from the recently concluded final, and those found guilty of misconduct are likely to face penalties and fines.
In the match, Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal for Spain in the 106th minute, marking the only goal of the final, which was largely influenced by Lamine Yamal and his teammates.