Fernandez initially received a booking for arguing with the official, and then picked up a second caution for an extremely late tackle that flipped Cubarsi through the air.
Once the final whistle sounded, Paredes clashed with Rodri, Gavi and Borja Iglesias, while his fellow international Molina appeared to throw a punch towards a Spain player as they walked by.
“It’s shameful to witness such scenes after the match is over,” said former England striker Wayne Rooney, working as a studio analyst. “A team has just been crowned world champions. That is simply unacceptable.
“Paredes should know better. And it doesn’t end there. He keeps getting involved repeatedly.”
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni fought back tears as he tried to defend his team’s display during his post-match media briefing, though he ultimately conceded the superior team had prevailed.
“Even though they dominated us until the 85th minute, I would be curious to see what might have occurred if we had still had all eleven players on the field,” he remarked about Fernandez’s sending-off.
“We managed to reach the closing stages with the match so wide open, but it just wasn’t to be. They earned their victory, that’s the simple truth.”
Argentina could have forced the World Cup final into extra time — which would have been the fifth instance in the last six editions — yet that possibility could not hide their second-best status.
“Argentina have absolutely no grounds to object to the outcome,” former England goalkeeper Joe Hart remarked on television. “Appalling conduct.
“I don’t feel Rodri needed to provoke them, but you can appreciate it after 120 minutes of being agitated, feeling you’ve been mistreated and that the referee has been hounding you.”
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