Aymeric Laporte: FIFA World Cup final referee must check Argentina's aggression

By SABC Sport
18th July 2026

Spain defender Aymeric Laporte has accused Argentina of crossing the line with their aggressive approach ahead of the World Cup final, insisting that style has no place in the game.

The reigning European champions will take on defending world champions Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday. However, much of the pre-match discussion has centred on Argentina's combative display in their semi-final victory over England.

Laporte argued that Argentina are a side that "likes to leave a mark on their opponents" and maintained that "that sort of thing shouldn't be allowed in football".

Argentina booked their place in the showpiece by overcoming England 2-1, with both of their goals arriving in the closing stages. Their performance also featured 15 fouls, highlighting the physical nature of the contest.

One of the game's biggest talking points came after only three minutes when Enzo Fernandez launched into a strong challenge from behind on Elliot Anderson. The tackle appeared to catch the England player on the back of the neck, yet no yellow card was shown.

The winning goal also sparked debate among England supporters, many of whom believed it should have been ruled out. They argued Lionel Messi had committed a foul on Djed Spence during the move that led to Argentina's decisive strike.

"It's the referee's job to keep a handle on these things so the situation doesn't get out of hand," former Manchester City player Laporte told Spanish sports newspaper Marca.

"If one or two players are allowed to act that way, the match descends into chaos.

"I'm not at all worried about aggression within the context of football. If it's within the rules and the referee does their job, I have no problem with it.

"It is true, however, that in recent matches we've seen things that really surprised us - actions that were allowed to slide.

"Especially with Argentina. They're a team that likes to leave a mark on their opponents. That sort of thing shouldn't be allowed in football - particularly in major competitions - because it can unsettle you and make you angry."