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15 Arrested in Argentina After World Cup Final Loss Sparks Riots
๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท Turkey /Sports

15 Arrested in Argentina After World Cup Final Loss Sparks Riots

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Argentina fans clashed with police in Buenos Aires after the national team lost the World Cup final to Spain.
  • Approximately 15 people were arrested during the unrest, which involved setting fire to trash containers and throwing objects at police.
  • Argentinian President Javier Milei congratulated the national team for their second-place finish and plans to declare a national holiday to honor their achievement.

Riots erupted in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, following the national football team's heartbreaking loss to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final. Hundreds of thousands of fans gathered around the iconic Obelisco monument to watch the match on large screens, only to witness their team fall 1-0 in extra time.

The disappointment quickly turned to anger as a segment of the crowd clashed with security forces. The unrest reportedly began when a group attempted to set fire to trash containers. Police responded with water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd, while some fans retaliated by throwing stones and bottles. During the confrontations, seven police officers were injured, and 15 individuals were arrested.

Despite the violent aftermath, Argentinian President Javier Milei took to social media to congratulate the national team for their performance. He praised the players for bringing joy to the country and securing a second-place finish in the prestigious tournament. Milei announced plans to declare a national holiday, the date of which is yet to be determined, to honor the team's achievement.

"Thank you, boys, for making our country so happy. A great pride for our country. Second in the world, long live our homeland," Milei posted, reflecting a mix of pride in the team's accomplishment and acknowledgment of the public's passionate, albeit sometimes destructive, reaction.

Thank you, boys, for making our country so happy. A great pride for our country. Second in the world, long live our homeland.

โ€” Javier MileiArgentinian President Javier Milei's message to the national football team after their World Cup final loss.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.