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Argentina FIFA World Cup final defeat to Spain is under renewed scrutiny after new footage emerged on social media showing an attempt to influence the aftermath of Enzo Fernandez’s decisive red card. Lionel Scaloni’s side lost 1-0 after extra time at the New York New Jersey Stadium, with Ferran Torres scoring the winner in the 106th minute to give Spain their second World Cup title. However, most of the post-match discussion focused on Argentina’s behavior during and after the final. The latest clip focuses on the incident in which Fernandez was sent off in second-half stoppage time. Just days after scoring the winner against England in the semi-final, the Chelsea midfielder endured a frustrating evening, picking up a second yellow card in the 93rd minute for a late tackle on Spain defender Pau Cubarsi. Fernandez immediately protested the decision, but replays showed the clash left little doubt about the referee’s call. Fresh footage circulating on the internet has added another layer of controversy. The video appears to show Argentina full-back Nicolas Tagliafico standing unchallenged near the Spanish penalty area before suddenly clutching his ankle and falling to the ground moments after Fernandez was fouled. Seconds earlier, Tagliafico was walking normally, without the Spanish player in the immediate vicinity. The same recording also records Lionel Messi rushing towards the referee Slavko Vinčić immediately after the red card was shown. The Argentina captain gestured towards the downed Tagliafico, seemingly trying to draw the referee’s attention to the incident. While any suspension for Tagliafico would have little bearing on the outcome, Argentina appeared hopeful it could prompt officials to review the sequence that led to Fernandez’s dismissal. The efforts had no effect, as Fernandez’s red card stood and Argentina were forced to see out the rest of the game with 10 men. Scaloni initially changed his side, asking Julian Alvarez to drop deeper and help cover the numerical disadvantage. As Spain continued to dominate possession and territory, the Argentina coach eventually introduced an extra defender, leaving Messi increasingly isolated in attack. Spain’s pressure was rewarded early in extra time when substitute Ferran Torres hit the net in the 106th minute to seal a historic World Cup triumph. Tempers flared after the final whistle. Nahuel Molina appeared to punch Spain captain Rodrigo in the torso during the celebration, while Leandro Paredes grabbed Eric Garcia by the throat before pushing Gavi to the ground, sparking a heated confrontation between players from both teams. The ugly scenes drew fierce criticism from former England defender Micah Richards, who questioned Argentina’s behavior after the defeat. “It’s embarrassing. They were under attack every time. To see things like that after the game, it’s not good, it’s embarrassing to be honest. Paredes is better than that. We all know what it’s like to lose a game, but this is not good enough.” Former England captain Wayne Rooney he also criticized Argentina’s reaction, saying the behavior reflected frustration after coming second best on the night. “We’ve seen this from Argentina before. It’s just sad, really bad from them. If you lose a football match, be kind. It’s a reaction to their outplay. Enzo Fernandez got what he deserved.”
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