Lionel Messi blasts Olympics officers after chaos in Argentina vs Morocco match

Lionel Messi led Argentina’s fury in direction of FIFA and Olympics officers after Argentina’s soccer match in opposition to Morocco descended into chaos on Wednesday.

Argentina had been crushed 2-1 by Morocco of their opening sport in Group B however the sport lasted simply over 4 hours, having initially kicked off at 2pm, following crowd bother which resulted in each fan being ordered to depart the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne.

Morocco gave the impression to be on target to safe the win when Cristian Medina headed the ball into the online within the sixteenth minute of damage time in what seemed to be an equaliser for Argentina.

Argentina’s gamers had been pelted by cups and bottles throughout their celebrations, whereas a flare landed close to the gamers and training employees within the dugout.

Morocco supporters additionally ran on to the pitch, whereas French riot police emerged on the touchline to assist restore order.

Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg opted to take the gamers off the pitch and a message on an enormous display screen within the stadium instructed supporters: ‘Your session has been suspended please make your strategy to the closest exit.’

However as an alternative of ending the sport, the gamers had been pressured to play the ultimate three minutes to an empty stadium.

In the course of the break in play which lasted over an hour, it was additionally introduced that Medina’s aim had been dominated out for offside by the VAR.

After his gamers had been introduced again out to complete the sport, Argentina’s head coach, Javier Mascherano, was heard saying on the touchline: ‘The most important circus I’ve ever seen in my life.’

Messi, in the meantime, just isn’t enjoying on the Olympics having led Argentina to victory on the Copa America this month.

However Argentina’s talisman was clearly watching the farcical scenes unfold as he posted on Instagram after the ultimate whistle: ‘Unbelievable’.

Argentine athletes have additionally confronted a hostile reception on the Olympics within the wake of Enzo Fernandez’s video which confirmed Argentina’s gamers singing a racist music about France after their win within the Copa America last.

The racist and transphobic chant, which was first sung by Argentina supporters in the course of the 2022 World Cup, claims that France’s gamers are ‘all from Angola’ and makes a vile reference to a reported relationship between France striker Kylian Mbappe and transgender mannequin Ines Rau.

Argentina’s nationwide anthem was booed loudly earlier than their sport kicked off in opposition to Morocco, whereas within the Rugby Sevens, Argentina’s gamers had been whistled as they walked out on the Stade de France earlier than beating Kenya 31-12.

The reality is that I used to be shocked, I didn’t understand it was going to be a lot,’ Santiago Alvarez, a member of Argentina’s Rugby Sevens squad, instructed TyC Sports activities.

‘However that’s additionally good. The identical factor occurs in Argentina, the French are similar to us in that sense, they’re very passionate. It’s another factor. However effectively, now we have to summary ourselves from that and take into consideration ourselves.’

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