Argentina’s coaching staff have angrily dismissed a surge of conspiracy theories surrounding their World Cup final defeat to Spain, insisting nothing “unnatural” took place in New Jersey.
In a firm intervention aimed at shutting down mounting online speculation, assistant coach Roberto Fabian Ayala said claims about a supposed internal crisis, a lack of effort and a mysterious pre-match message from Lionel Messi were “completely false”.
Speaking to Argentinian outlet TyC Sports, Ayala said: “كل ما يتداول حول وجود امور غير طبيعية في النهايي عار تماما من الصحة.”
He added: “هذه اشياء نسمعها ونقول: (لا يعقل ان يقولوا هذا الكلام).. لان شييا من ذلك لم يحدث، بل على العكس تماما”.
The comments come after days of fevered discussion on social media following Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Spain after extra time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey – a result which denied Lionel Scaloni’s side back‐to‐back world titles.
Staff move to quash online speculation
Since the final, a series of viral posts have tried to cast doubt on Argentina’s performance and unity.
Users claimed the players walked onto the pitch “with grim faces”, that they managed only a single shot on target across 120 minutes, and that Messi had urged his team-mates with the phrase “دعونا ننسى كل شيء” (“let’s forget everything”) before kick-off – a line some interpreted as a sign of resignation rather than motivation.
Others alleged that midfielder Enzo Fernandez was booked simply for speaking to the referee, presenting it as further evidence that forces beyond football were influencing the match.
Ayala directly rejected the entire narrative, stressing that none of the supposed incidents pointed to anything unusual inside the Argentinian camp.
Scaloni bristles at ‘internal conflict’ question
Head coach Lionel Scaloni had already shown his irritation at the rumours when he was confronted by reporters as he left the Ezeiza training complex near Buenos Aires.
Asked about suggestions of a dressing-room rift, Scaloni responded sharply: “لا اصدق ما تسالونني عنه، لقد ابتعدنا عن الموضوع يا رفاق”.
His reaction underlined the frustration within the world champions’ set-up at seeing their defeat framed not in tactical or sporting terms, but as the product of hidden dramas and plots.
‘I don’t follow social media – no idea what they say’
Before travelling back to his hometown of Buchardo, Ayala was pressed again by journalists about the speculation swirling online, including the widely shared claims about Messi’s supposed pre-match team talk.
The former defender replied in a measured but unequivocal tone: “لا اتابع مواقع التواصل، لا اعرف شييا، ليس لدي اي فكرة عما تقوله”.
The message from Ayala was clear: the staff will not validate or expand on rumours that originate from people who were not present at the stadium.
His stance is also a pointed criticism of a growing tendency – among fans and even some journalists – to turn conjecture and “gut feeling” into what are presented as established facts, based purely on television images, short clips and second-hand reports.
‘Only those on the pitch know the truth’
Argentina’s technical team insist there is only one version of events that matters from last Sunday in New Jersey – that Spain were superior and deserved to win the title.
They stress that the “truth” of what happened on the field at MetLife Stadium is known only to those who played and coached there, not to those dissecting facial expressions and body language on social media.
By breaking their silence, Scaloni and Ayala hope to draw a line under days of speculation and reframe the defeat as a sporting setback rather than the product of unseen turmoil – even as online debate shows little sign of dying down.
