Argentina's junior men's hockey team saw their FIH Junior World Cup final hopes dashed in a storm of controversy on December 7, 2025, with head coach Juan Gilardi launching a furious tirade against the tournament officials. A hotly disputed Spanish goal in the 56th minute proved decisive in the 2-1 semi-final defeat in Chennai, leaving the 2016 Olympic gold medallist fuming and alleging his team was unfairly targeted.
Gilardi's Explosive Allegations
Emotions ran high for Juan Gilardi in the post-match press conference. The Argentine mentor did not mince words, accusing the match umpires of consistently penalising his side with cards while letting other teams off lightly. "Right now, I have to say that the umpires, they f****d us the whole tournament with cards," Gilardi stated bluntly. He argued that his team was singled out for aggressive play, receiving cards for minor infractions where others only got warnings.
The coach's anger peaked over the match-winning goal, scored by Spain's Albert Serrahima. "That goal was clearly not a goal," Gilardi insisted. He also referenced a denied penalty corner for Argentina with just two seconds left, where officials ruled danger for the attacking team. "The whole tournament, umpiring is really bad against Argentina but we have to deal with that also," he added, vowing to focus on the upcoming bronze medal match.
The Contentious Moment That Decided the Match
The incident that sparked the fury occurred deep in the fourth quarter of a tight semi-final. With the score tied, Spain's Bruno Avila launched a powerful long ball from midfield into the Argentine circle. The ball was lifted slightly off the turf as Albert Serrahima, closely marked by a defender, attempted to get a touch. Argentine goalkeeper let the ball pass into the net.
The on-field referee immediately signalled a goal, triggering a lengthy video referral. After reviewing multiple angles, the television umpire reportedly could not provide conclusive advice on two critical points: whether the ball was dangerously above knee height and whether Serrahima had definitively touched it. The final decision rested with the on-field officials, who upheld the goal. "Everyone saw it on the screen; it was nothing. You can never give a goal like that," a disbelieving Gilardi claimed later.
Sympathy from the Winning Camp
In a telling moment, even Spanish head coach Oriol Torras expressed sympathy for Argentina's plight when asked about the controversial goal. Torras was initially lost for words, simply making the Sign of the Cross. When pressed on how he would have reacted had the goal been awarded against his team, he replied candidly, "Ah, s**t, s**t. Yeah, of course (I have sympathy for Argentina). It's difficult to lose in this form because of this goal."
This admission from the victorious coach underscored the contentious nature of the decisive moment. The result sent Spain through to the final of the Junior World Cup, while Argentina will now compete for the bronze medal, carrying the weight of what they perceive as unjust officiating throughout their campaign in Chennai.
