Argentina has filed a complaint with FIFA over the dispute in Wednesday’s opening Olympic soccer match against Morocco.
The Copa America winners lost 2-1 to Morocco in a match marred by crowd trouble, with a late equalizer ruled out by VAR after the match was stopped for two hours.
In celebration of what they thought was Cristian Medina’s equalizing goal in the 16th minute of added time, fans poured onto the pitch and players were pointed at the players with fireworks thrown onto the pitch.
The last three minutes of the match were played more than four hours after the first half in an empty stadium in St Etienne.
The Argentine FA (AFA) demanded that FIFA “take the necessary measures to control such a serious event.”
The statement added: “It is important that we ensure the safety of the top players for the peaceful development of this beautiful game of football and the home of Argentine football, we will do what is necessary to make this happen.”
Argentina manager Javier Mascherano described the match as “the biggest circus I have ever seen in my life.”
🤯 NEGLECTED SCHEDULE : l’arbitre d’Argentine-Moroc canceled le deuxième but argentin… deux heures après la suspension de la rencontre !
Les joueurs sont revenus sur le terrain pour debater trois dernières minutes and the end of Morocco won 2-1 #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/1XswW8uXin
– Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) July 24, 2024
He later added to the press conference after the game: “I haven’t been a coach for a long time, but I’ve never seen a situation like this in my career as a player,” said Mascherano, who won gold with Argentina in 2004 and 2008. .
“It’s a circus. But it is. We cannot control it. I told the boys that now we have to look forward, try to get six points that will allow us to go forward and all this should fill us with energy and anger for what we have.
“It is shameful that this happened and poisoned the competition. This would not happen even in the neighborhood competition. It’s sad.
“Without the Olympic spirit, the organization needs to be at a level and at the moment, unfortunately, it is not.”
The statement of the organizers of the tournament said: “The football match between Argentina and Morocco at the Saint-Etienne Stadium has been suspended due to an attack on the stadium by a few spectators.
“The game then restarted and he was able to finish safely. Paris 2024 is working with relevant stakeholders to understand the causes and identify appropriate actions.”
Argentina will play Iraq in their second match on Saturday, Morocco will face Ukraine.
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