Olmor accuses Ayala of lying by rejecting his apology

The heated situation at the end of the World Cup final has spilled over off the field as well. Spanish star Dani Olmo has rejected Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala’s apology for the post-match brawl. He also called Ayala’s explanation of the entire incident a “lie.”

Spain won 1-0 against Argentina in the World Cup final last week. After the final whistle, a scuffle broke out between players and officials from both teams, with Olmo seen pushing Ayala hard in the neck.

Ayala expressed regret for his actions in an interview with Valencia Capital Radio after the incident. However, he defended himself, saying: “It was more of a simple push than anything else; it wasn’t a punch as it is being reported. It was basically a reaction to a comment made by Olmo, that’s all. I will apologize to him personally if we meet again.”

However, Olmo did not accept Ayala’s apology. In an interview with Catalan newspaper ‘Diari de Terrassa’, the Spanish midfielder strongly protested Ayala’s claim, saying, “The one who apologizes and tries to show his punch as a response to a comment is never remorseful. Because he is clearly lying. I didn’t say anything to him, so he doesn’t need to apologize separately.”

Making his position clear, the 28-year-old FC Barcelona star added, “Our true identity is not in making mistakes, but in the courage to admit those mistakes with humility, honesty and dignity. When my family, children and football fans watch us play, I want them to feel proud of our performance and behavior. As footballers, we are examples to the next generation, which brings with it a huge responsibility.”

FIFA is investigating the incident that took place at the end of the match. Several players from both teams were involved in the brawl, including Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes, who was seen arguing with Spanish players on several occasions.

It is worth noting that Dani Olmo played in the starting eleven in six of Spain’s eight matches in the recently concluded World Cup, where he scored two goals with his teammates.