The president of the Argentine Football Federation, Claudio Tapia, has called on fans to accept defeat in the World Cup final and stop the controversy over a replay of the match, stressing that Spain deservedly won the trophy.
His reaction comes after a petition launched by Argentine fans has gathered thousands of signatures, demanding a replay of the final and questioning the refereeing of Slovenian Slavko Vinčić. The final was won by Spain thanks to a goal from Ferran Torres in extra time, giving "La Roja" their second world champion title in history.
After the match, tensions rose on the pitch, with several Argentina players and staff members engaging in verbal and physical altercations with Spanish players. In one of the most high-profile incidents, Gavi was sent to the ground after a tackle, and FIFA has launched an investigation into the events that followed the final whistle. Some of the Argentine players also turned their backs on Spain's trophy-raising ceremony, a gesture that was widely criticised.
Despite the fans' reactions and the debate created after the final, Tapia urged the national team's supporters to accept the result and continue to stand by the team.
"We didn't manage to beat Spain. They were better, they won deservedly and we have to accept that. In sport you also learn by accepting defeats with the same dignity with which you celebrate victories," declared the head of the Argentine Federation.
He also praised the contribution of this team, emphasizing that despite the loss in the final, it continues to remain the pride of the country.
"Yes, we lost a final. But this group has given our country extraordinary joy. The loss hurts, because we are competitive and second place is never enough for us. However, we continue to be one of the two best teams in the world," said Tapia.
