Angry Argentina fans threw rocks and bottles at police in Buenos Aires on Sunday night after their team lost the World Cup final to Spain.
Thousands of supporters spilt out on to the streets after the match, with crowds gathering at the Obelisk monument in support of their national team.
The scenes quickly turned ugly as fights broke out and riot police were called in.
Fans threw rocks and glass bottles at the officers, who responded with rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon.
At least 15 people were arrested and dozens more were injured in the clashes.
Crowds gathered in the streets of the capital to watch the final, and were largely peaceful until violence broke out at around 11.45pm, when several people climbed over the perimeter fence protecting the Obelisk.
Images show one supporter being kicked in the head by a riot police officer.
Seven police officers sustained multiple injuries, according to Infobae, a local news site. One man who was kicked in the head by a passing fan was carried away by a group of people.
Authorities shut down several main streets in the capital in an attempt to quell the riots.
In Spain, a 13-year-old boy was killed and two others injured during celebrations. The incident happened in the mediaeval city of Ciudad Rodrigo when the Arbol Gordo fountain partially collapsed shortly after midnight.
“What was supposed to be a celebration for the victory in the Spanish national football team’s World Cup has turned into a tragedy,” Ciudad Rodrigo’s town hall said in a statement.
The violence in Buenos Aires reflected the behaviour of some Argentine players after the final whistle. Having been outclassed by Spain in the 1-0 defeat, some Argentine players punched, kicked and grabbed at their Spanish opponents after the game had ended.
The South Americans then turned their backs on their opponents during the trophy presentation in New Jersey.
Despite the defeat, Javier Milei, Argentina’s president, has declared a national holiday, saying he would let the players choose the date of it.
Mr Milei did not attend the final at the MetLife stadium himself because of superstition – he did not want to bring bad luck, having not attended previous games – but declared the country should be given a “day to celebrate”.
He wrote on X: “WORLD CELEBRATION Given the concern about the celebrations for the achievement reached by the Argentine national team, I inform the population that, depending on what the players and the technical staff decide regarding the day to celebrate, it will be declared a national holiday.”
Argentina declared a bank holiday after winning the World Cup against France in 2022. It took place on the Tuesday after the final, when the players returned to Buenos Aires for a parade attended by millions.
Spain has yet to declare a bank holiday, but a celebration parade will be held in Madrid on Monday.
The winning team will return home to their capital on Monday where they will be received by King Felipe VI and Pedro Sánchez, the prime minister, before embarking on a parade through the city centre on an open-top bus.
They will travel from near the Moncloa Palace, the prime minister’s official residence, to Cibeles Square, the central government’s representative in Madrid.
Mr Sánchez congratulated the players on social media. “WE ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!! Thanks, team,” he wrote.
The socialist leader set aside his differences with his Donald Trump while attending the match, shaking the US president’s hand and sitting near him in a box.
-The Telegraph
Thousands of supporters spilt out on to the streets after the match, with crowds gathering at the Obelisk monument in support of their national team.
The scenes quickly turned ugly as fights broke out and riot police were called in.
Fans threw rocks and glass bottles at the officers, who responded with rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon.
At least 15 people were arrested and dozens more were injured in the clashes.
Crowds gathered in the streets of the capital to watch the final, and were largely peaceful until violence broke out at around 11.45pm, when several people climbed over the perimeter fence protecting the Obelisk.
Images show one supporter being kicked in the head by a riot police officer.
Seven police officers sustained multiple injuries, according to Infobae, a local news site. One man who was kicked in the head by a passing fan was carried away by a group of people.
Authorities shut down several main streets in the capital in an attempt to quell the riots.
In Spain, a 13-year-old boy was killed and two others injured during celebrations. The incident happened in the mediaeval city of Ciudad Rodrigo when the Arbol Gordo fountain partially collapsed shortly after midnight.
“What was supposed to be a celebration for the victory in the Spanish national football team’s World Cup has turned into a tragedy,” Ciudad Rodrigo’s town hall said in a statement.
The violence in Buenos Aires reflected the behaviour of some Argentine players after the final whistle. Having been outclassed by Spain in the 1-0 defeat, some Argentine players punched, kicked and grabbed at their Spanish opponents after the game had ended.
The South Americans then turned their backs on their opponents during the trophy presentation in New Jersey.
Despite the defeat, Javier Milei, Argentina’s president, has declared a national holiday, saying he would let the players choose the date of it.
Mr Milei did not attend the final at the MetLife stadium himself because of superstition – he did not want to bring bad luck, having not attended previous games – but declared the country should be given a “day to celebrate”.
He wrote on X: “WORLD CELEBRATION Given the concern about the celebrations for the achievement reached by the Argentine national team, I inform the population that, depending on what the players and the technical staff decide regarding the day to celebrate, it will be declared a national holiday.”
Argentina declared a bank holiday after winning the World Cup against France in 2022. It took place on the Tuesday after the final, when the players returned to Buenos Aires for a parade attended by millions.
Spain has yet to declare a bank holiday, but a celebration parade will be held in Madrid on Monday.
The winning team will return home to their capital on Monday where they will be received by King Felipe VI and Pedro Sánchez, the prime minister, before embarking on a parade through the city centre on an open-top bus.
They will travel from near the Moncloa Palace, the prime minister’s official residence, to Cibeles Square, the central government’s representative in Madrid.
Mr Sánchez congratulated the players on social media. “WE ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!! Thanks, team,” he wrote.
The socialist leader set aside his differences with his Donald Trump while attending the match, shaking the US president’s hand and sitting near him in a box.
-The Telegraph
