Dani Olmo has dismissed an apology from Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala following their dispute after Spain’s World Cup final triumph.
Video footage captured Ayala sharply raising his hands toward the neck of Olmo, which prompted the Argentine to apologize on Wednesday, explaining that “it was a reaction to something [Olmo] said.”
In response, Olmo spoke to Catalan outlet Diari de Terrassa this weekend, stating: “Someone who claims to be sorry but justifies their actions with comments is not truly remorseful; they are being dishonest. I said nothing to him, so he had no reason to apologize.”
“What truly defines us is not the error itself, but the courage to admit it with sincerity, humility, and dignity.”
Olmo further expressed, “When my children, family, and all our supporters watch the game, I want them to be proud of how we played, how we won, and, most importantly, how we conducted ourselves. The significance of football means that players set examples for children and future generations, a responsibility we must take seriously.”
During his apology in an interview with Valencia Capital Radio on Wednesday, Ayala denied having punched Olmo.
“I genuinely regret it. Given my role, I must not let emotions or any reactions from the other party influence my demeanor or actions,” he remarked.
“We need to set boundaries and move on. It was more of a push than a punch, despite how it’s been portrayed.”
“It was a reaction to something he said, but that’s all there was to it. If I have the chance to see him, I will certainly apologize in person.”
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Argentina has faced significant backlash for their conduct following the final whistle of the title match on July 19, with players and staff, including Leandro Paredes, engaging physically with some Spain players.
FIFA has launched a disciplinary investigation concerning these incidents.