New Footage Reveals Otamendi's Furious Attack On Rodri And Laporte After WC Final | WATCH

Last Updated:July 21, 2026, 20:11 IST

Nicolas Otamendi accused Spain's Rodri and Aymeric Laporte of trying to influence referees before the World Cup final as Argentina's post-match meltdown took another turn.

Argentina’s World Cup final meltdown has taken another dramatic twist after defender Nicolas Otamendi accused Spain captain Rodri and Aymeric Laporte of trying to influence referees before the showpiece clash.

The allegation emerged amid chaotic scenes following Spain’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina, a match that ended with mass confrontations, red cards and widespread criticism of the defending champions’ behaviour.

Otamendi’s Explosive Accusation

As tempers boiled over after the final whistle, Otamendi confronted Rodri and accused Spain’s players of attempting to sway match officials in the days leading up to the final.

According to translated footage from the altercation, the veteran defender shouted:

“Start talking less, idiot. You guys spent the whole week crying.

“You spent the whole week crying. You and Laporte, both of you. That’s not how it’s done. You were crying to the referees all week, my friend."

The confrontation came during ugly scenes that saw players from both teams clash following Ferran Torres’ extra-time winner.

What Sparked It?

Otamendi’s comments appear to reference remarks made by Laporte before the final.

Speaking to Spanish outlet Marca, the Spain defender had urged referees to clamp down on Argentina’s increasingly physical approach after several controversial knockout-stage performances.

“I’m not worried at all about physical play as long as it’s part of football. If the referee does his job, I have no problem with it."

Laporte also questioned why several robust challenges from Argentina had gone unpunished during the tournament.

“We’ve seen things that have surprised us a lot, actions that have gone unpunished.

“Especially with Argentina, who are a team that often leaves one in. That should not be allowed in football."

Chaos Overshadows The Final

The referee debate was only one part of a chaotic finale.

Argentina’s players were heavily criticised after Leandro Paredes and Thiago Almada helped spark a mass confrontation with Spain’s squad after the final whistle. Paredes was sent off for grabbing Eric Garcia by the throat and kicking him to the ground, while several other players became involved in heated exchanges.

The fallout continued during the medal ceremony, where Argentina’s squad turned their backs on Spain’s celebrations before leaving without speaking to the media.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

News sports football New Footage Reveals Otamendi's Furious Attack On Rodri And Laporte After WC Final | WATCH

Read More