Chaotic scenes marred the lads’s soccer match between Argentina and Morocco on the opening day of sporting motion on the Olympics
Arnaud FINISTRE
Textual content measurement
Paris Olympics organisers have been Thursday investigating the group hassle throughout a chaotic soccer match between Argentina and Morocco that marred the opening day of sport on the Video games.
Argentina’s soccer affiliation in the meantime known as for motion following the defeat for its males’s facet on Wednesday.
The Moroccans beat two-time gold medallists Argentina 2-1 in Saint-Etienne on the finish of a sport mired in confusion and crowd hassle.
Argentina thought they’d salvaged a 2-2 draw when Cristian Medina scored within the sixteenth minute of harm time as the sport went on even past the 15 additional minutes indicated by officers.
However crowd hassle ensued, with projectiles launched onto the pitch and spectators invading the enjoying space. A firecracker was thrown on the Argentina bench.
The gamers have been taken off, earlier than reappearing almost two hours later to play out three extra minutes in a stadium by now emptied of spectators.
Medina’s aim was then disallowed for offside following a VAR evaluate, and Morocco held on for the win.
“The soccer match between Argentina and Morocco on the Saint-Etienne Stadium was suspended attributable to a pitch invasion by a small variety of spectators,” mentioned Paris 2024 organisers in a press release.
“The match then restarted and was in a position to conclude safely. Paris 2024 is working with the related stakeholders to grasp the causes and establish acceptable actions.”
Argentina coach Javier Mascherano known as the incidents and the ensuing confusion “a scandal” and complained that “we had 1,000,000 issues thrown at us”.
The Argentine FA mentioned they’d made “a proper grievance to FIFA’s disciplinary committee in order that the required measures are taken for such a severe incident”.
“There’s a urgent want to ensure the safety of these concerned in order that this stunning sport that’s soccer will be performed in peace,” the assertion added.
Morocco’s gamers have been livid concerning the period of time added on on the finish of the sport, whereas their supporters had additionally loudly booed the Argentina staff after they got here onto the pitch and in the course of the nationwide anthem.
That welcome got here after Argentina gamers have been filmed singing racist chants following their victory within the latest Copa America.
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi, one of many highest-profile gamers within the males’s soccer match, was essential of the behaviour of some followers on the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
“I deplore the perspective of sure supporters in the course of the match, which tarnished the picture of our loyal followers. Such behaviour has no place in soccer,” Hakimi, of Paris Saint-Germain, wrote on X.
Argentina, whose subsequent group sport will probably be on Saturday in opposition to Iraq in Lyon, additionally say no less than considered one of their gamers had valuables stolen from their dressing room whereas they educated on Tuesday.
“Thiago Almada is lacking a watch and a hoop,” Mascherano advised reporters.
The general public prosecutor in Saint-Etienne, David Charmatz, advised AFP that the Argentina staff had revealed their intention to file a police grievance in Lyon, the place their resort is located.
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