New Delhi: The men’s football tournament of Paris Olympics descended into chaos as violence marked Morocco’s shock 2-1 win over two-time gold medallist Argentina.
The match was suspended for nearly two hours after agitated Moroccan fans invaded the pitch in Saint-Etienne to protest a late Argentine goal in the 16th minute of added time.
The Moroccan fans threw objects and had to be tackled by security personnel on the field at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard after Cristian Medina appeared to have pulled Argentina level at 2-2.
Images suggested Argentina players had to take evasive action as a flare was thrown onto the field and the pitch was littered with bottles and cups when the game was paused.
The teams had left the field after the fans ran onto the pitch only to discover later that the game hadn’t concluded but suspended by the referee.
Medina scored for Argentina deep in injury time to salvage what appeared to be a 2-2 draw, but a VAR review ruled out the goal for offside after about two hours of delay.
After the stadium was vacated, the teams re-emerged on to the pitch to playing the remaining three minutes and 15 seconds to finish the match after a VAR review had chalked off the Argentine goal.
Olympics
Breaking – The first scandal of the Paris Summer Olympics is a fact.
The game between Morocco & Argentina has been suspended after angry Moroccan fans stormed the pitch and the crowd threw firecrackers at the Argentine players after their equalizing goal
YOU THINK… pic.twitter.com/UuwhXjegDc
— Abhay (@AstuteGaba) July 24, 2024
Soufiane Rahimi’s brace had put Morocco in a commanding 2-0 lead before Giuliano Simeone pulled one back for the 2004 and 2008 gold medallists in the 68th minute.
“I don’t remember something like this happening at this level, that the match is suspended for an hour and a half, warming up for 10 minutes and then play three,” said Argentina manager Javier Mascherano.
“What happened on the pitch was a scandal, it’s not a neighbourhood tournament, it’s the Olympics.”
Argentina’s football federation issued a formal appeal to global governing body FIFA to “take the necessary regulatory measures for such a serious event.”
“Paris 2024 is working with the relevant stakeholders to understand the causes and identify appropriate actions,” an Olympics spokesperson said.
The match was suspended for nearly two hours after agitated Moroccan fans invaded the pitch in Saint-Etienne to protest a late Argentine goal in the 16th minute of added time. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
