At least 15 people were arrested in Buenos Aires on Sunday night after clashes broke out following Argentina's 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final. Fans gathered at the Obelisk monument to support the national team, but the demonstration turned violent, with seven security officers reportedly injured, according to Argentine media outlet Clarin.
Clashes and Police Intervention
The night initially proceeded peacefully until around 11:30 pm local time (3:30 am BST), when security forces intervened. Police deployed water cannon trucks and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Officers arriving on motorcycles had to dodge stones and bottles thrown by protesters. Within about 15 minutes of the intervention, the crowds had fled from Plaza de la República, leaving debris scattered across the area.
Fan Reaction to Refereeing Decisions
Online, Argentine fans expressed outrage over the result, particularly the second yellow card shown to Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez in extra time. Fernandez's challenge on Spanish defender Pau Cubarsi flipped the player into the air, leading to his dismissal. One fan wrote: 'The biggest robbery in World Cup history. All the cards for Argentina, not a single one for Spain. Shameful.' They added: 'Look why they gave Enzo Fernández a yellow card. The second kick is definitely a yellow, but this one ???'
Divergent Views
However, many disagreed with the claims of unfairness. One commenter retorted: 'Today Argentina didn't just lose; they saw the harsh reality that they don't play at anything—they spend the whole match committing fouls—and since it had worked for them before, they thought it would be the same in the final.' The match saw Argentina dominated by Spain, with the sending-off compounding their difficulties.
