Morocco stunned two-time gold champion Argentina with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday, kicking off the violent and chaotic Olympic men’s soccer tournament.
Angry Moroccan fans stormed the field and hurled bottles from the bleachers in protest at Argentina’s late goal in the 16th minute of extra time, forcing the play to be delayed for nearly two hours. The outcome only tells half of the story.
Many were confused as to whether the game had ended or been paused due to the irate and strange scene. Despite instructions to evacuate the stadium, the players stayed behind and played a final three minutes of extra time with the stands empty.
Just moments before the match resumed, the goal scored by Cristian Medina was disallowed due to offside, and Morocco managed to hold on for the victory.
The national soccer team of Argentina has formally requested that FIFA “take the necessary regulatory measures for such a serious event.”
Officials from Paris 2024 are “working with the relevant stakeholders to understand the causes and identify appropriate actions,” according to a representative from the biennial.
When Moroccan fans realized Medina had scored a goal, they became enraged because they believed their side had lost a crucial match against a soccer giant on the international stage.
After Medina appeared to equalize at 2-2, violence broke out on the field of Stade Geoffroy-Guichard as security tackled Moroccan fans who had invaded the field.
Pictures surfaced showing many Argentine players recoiling in fear when something that looked like a flare was tossed onto the pitch. By the time play was halted, the field was covered in broken glass.
At first, everyone assumed the full-time signal had been given. The game was deemed over even on FIFA’s official website.
Approximately one hour following the event, the venue’s managers said that the match was still ongoing and that video assistant referees would determine the goal’s validity.
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After a lengthy wait, the players returned to the field and started warming up in preparation for the game’s conclusion. Following warmups, an official analyzed the footage as players from both teams remained on the field in the otherwise deserted stadium. While the Moroccan team celebrated, he gave Argentina a quick explanation.
After the restart, play continued for around three minutes until the final whistle sounded.
Prior to Argentina’s comeback, Morocco enjoyed a 2-0 lead. After 68 minutes, Giuliano Simeone scored, and then Medina’s effort caused a flurry of activity.
Cafes around Morocco were airing the match, reflecting the growing sense of national pride in the country following their 2022 World Cup semifinal run. As crowds swarmed the field during a record-breaking heat wave, tea-drinking men yelled at televisions and watched in disbelief.
A 28-year-old Rabat resident named Zak Eddakir explained that the fans’ reaction stemmed from the inherent dissatisfaction with a scoreless match and the concept that a referee’s decision may decide the outcome of the match, as well as the significance of soccer in Morocco.
The victory for Morocco prompted hairdresser Khadija Seffany to rush out into the street and celebrate with her neighbors and friends. Since Morocco is an Arab country, she first assumed that the officials wanted Argentina to win due to the delay in claiming the goal was offside. She went on to say that every single Olympic match will be crucial.
In this regard, we rank among the very finest on Earth. Football beer is what we drink. Football is our food,” Seffany declared.
Argentina lost their opening match in the Olympic football competition against Morocco 2-1 after a video assistant referee review after play was halted with the score tied at 2-2 due to a fan invasion that caused pandemonium.
Cristian Medina of Argentina scored in the 92nd minute of injury time to rescue a 2-2 tie, but the goal was later disallowed due to offside, and the verdict was handed down approximately two hours after the match had been paused.
Following the restoration of order in Saint-Etienne and the teams’ departure from the field in response to the crowd invasion, it was later learned that the match had been suspended by officials rather than completed.
A decision regarding the continuation of the match was being deliberated, according to the venue manager who informed Reuters that the game had been paused.
Following the video assistant referee’s review and goal disallowance, the sides returned to the field to complete the match in a stadium devoid of spectators. Play continued for three minutes and fifteen seconds.