Argentina Coach Condemns Chaotic ‘Scandal’ at Olympic Soccer Match Against Morocco
The head of Argentina’s soccer federation has expressed outrage over the chaotic conclusion of their Olympic soccer match against Morocco on Wednesday, describing the situation as “nonsensical,” while Argentina’s coach labeled the incident a “scandal.”
Chaotic Ending to the Match
The opening match of the men’s soccer tournament was marred by a nearly two-hour suspension during added time. This was due to Morocco fans invading the field and throwing bottles in protest of a late goal scored by Argentina, which was subsequently overturned by the video assistant referee (VAR). Ultimately, Argentina lost the match 2-1.
“What occurred on the field was a scandal. This isn’t a local tournament, these are the Olympic Games,” stated Argentina coach Javier Mascherano.
Organizers’ Response and Official Protests
Paris organizers have initiated an investigation to “understand the causes and identify appropriate actions” following the incident at Saint-Etienne. The Argentine soccer federation filed a formal protest with FIFA, pledging to do “whatever is necessary” to ensure the safety of its players.
“Waiting almost two hours in the dressing room after Morocco fans invaded the pitch, the violence faced by the Argentine delegation, our players having to re-warm up and continue a match that should have been suspended by the referee—it all defies logic and violates competition rules,” said Argentina Football Association president Claudio Tapia.
Details of the Incident
Morocco fans stormed the field to protest Cristian Medina’s goal in the 16th minute of added time, which seemed to level the game at 2-2. During the chaos, bottles were thrown from the stands, and security personnel had to tackle the pitch invaders.
Images surfaced showing Argentina players reacting in shock as a flare appeared to be thrown onto the field.
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Player Reactions and Match Continuation
“I condemn the behavior of certain supporters during the match, which tarnished the image of our loyal fans. Such actions have no place in football,” wrote Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi on social media.
Amidst the confusion, players headed to the locker room and fans were instructed to leave the stadium, with FIFA’s official website initially declaring the final score as 2-2. However, it later became clear that the game had been suspended with minutes left to play and that Medina’s goal was under review.
After approximately two hours, players returned to warm up in an empty stadium. Referee Glenn Nyberg confirmed he was reviewing the goal using the touchline monitor and eventually ruled it offside.
Morocco secured the win by holding on during the final three minutes of play.
Moving Forward
“The game was halted due to security concerns. At no point were we informed about any review of the play,” Mascherano clarified.
“Although it’s a confusing situation, we must move forward. It’s in the past now. Our focus needs to shift to the remaining two games. We need to channel our frustration and give our best in the upcoming matches.”
Argentina’s Olympic Aspirations
As two-time gold medalists and one of the pre-tournament favorites, Argentina had high hopes for achieving more success following their World Cup victory in 2022 and back-to-back Copa America titles. Despite this setback, they remain determined to pursue further glory.
