Lionel Scaloni walked out of his post-match press conference in tears, his voice breaking as he spoke about his future after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat by Spain. The 2-1 extra-time loss, decided by Ferran Torres’s goal, had already sparked fury among Argentine supporters demanding the match be replayed. But it was the head coach’s emotional departure, captured on video by the BBC, that laid bare the raw wound of a second-place finish for a squad that had brought “immense joy” to the nation just months earlier.
In the days that followed, conspiracy theories swirled. Scaloni and captain Lionel Messi had both hinted at something that affected the team moments before kick-off, fuelling speculation about foul play. Argentina supporters took to social media to demand a replay, and ugly post-match scenes saw Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina and assistant coach Roberto Ayala allegedly punching Spain players.
“Argentina FA chief Claudio Tapia rejects conspiracy theories after Spain defeat as Scaloni breaks down in tears.”
Now the Argentina FA has intervened. President Claudio Tapia released a statement dismissing the conspiracy theories outright. “Don’t be fooled by lies,” he said. “They were superior, they beat us fair and square.” He warned fans not to be “swayed by schemes that only seek to destabilise” – a line that appeared to also refer to the violent clashes that marred the final whistle.
Tapia’s full statement, obtained by the Mirror, sought to draw a line under the controversy while praising the squad’s efforts. “In sports, you also learn by accepting defeats with the same grace with which you celebrate victories,” he wrote. “Losing hurts. It hurts because we are competitive, because we are the most successful team in history, and because second place is never enough for us. It hurts because we are used to fighting until the end and because we continue to be one of the two best teams in the world.”
He reminded Argentines of the sacrifice: more than 50 days away from families, representing “all of the Americas with enormous pride”. “That’s why you shouldn’t be swayed by lies or by schemes that only seek to destabilize,” he concluded. “Enough of trying to turn against those who have given so much to our…
For now, Tapia’s intervention may calm the conspiracy fever, but the image of Scaloni weeping at a lectern lingers – a portrait of a champion unable to mask the pain of coming second.