Invaders run on the pitch in the course of the males’s Group B soccer match between Argentina and Morocco at Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium on the Paris Olympics 2024,, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Saint-Etienne, France. (AP Photograph/Silvia Izquierdo)
The pinnacle of Argentina’s soccer federation stated the chaotic ending to its Paris Olympics soccer match towards Morocco on Wednesday “is unnecessary,” and coach Javier Mascherano known as the scene “a scandal.”
The opening match of the lads’s soccer event was suspended for almost two hours throughout added time after Morocco followers invaded the sphere and threw bottles in protest of a late objective by Argentina. The objective was later overturned by the video assistant referee, and Argentina misplaced 2-1.
“What occurred on the sphere was a scandal. This isn’t a neighborhood event, these are the Olympic Video games,” Mascherano stated.
Paris organizers stated they had been making an attempt to “perceive the causes and establish applicable actions” after the match in Saint-Etienne. Argentina’s soccer federation stated it issued a proper protest Wednesday to world governing physique FIFA and would do “what is important” to ensure the protection of gamers.
“Having to attend nearly two hours within the dressing room, after Morocco followers coming into the pitch, the violence that the Argentina delegation suffered, our gamers having to heat up once more and proceed to play a match that ought to have been suspended by the primary referee, is actually one thing that is unnecessary and that goes towards the competitors guidelines,” Argentina Soccer Affiliation president Claudio Tapia stated.
The Argentina staff additionally stated its coaching base was robbed earlier than the sport, with a watch belonging to midfielder Thiago Almada among the many gadgets taken.
In the meantime, Argentine President Javier Milei arrived Thursday in Paris, his workplace stated, and is anticipated to satisfy French President Emmanuel Macron after tensions escalated between their international locations over the Argentine soccer staff’s derogatory post-match chants about French gamers at Copa America.
Stewards catch pitch invaders in the course of the males’s Group B soccer match between Argentina and Morocco at Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium on the Paris Olympics 2024, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Saint-Etienne, France. (AP Photograph/Silvia Izquierdo)
Morocco followers rushed the sphere to protest Cristian Medina’s objective within the sixteenth minute of added time at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, which appeared to tie the sport at 2. Bottles additionally had been thrown from the group and, in frenzied scenes, safety tackled followers on the sphere.
“A few of the followers thought it was the top of the match and determined to invade the pitch,” Thomas Collomb, the deputy director of safety for Paris Olympics organizers, stated Thursday. “The environment was festive. At no time was there any safety danger for gamers or spectators. Inside minutes of the ultimate whistle, a safety bubble shaped across the athletes.”
There have been photos of Argentina gamers flinching when what gave the impression to be a flare was thrown onto the sphere.
“I can perceive why this might need been worrying for Argentine athletes,” stated Bruno Le Ray, the organizing committee’s safety director. “Stade Geoffroy-Guichard is understood for having no limitations between the stands and the pitch. To our information, no firecrackers had been fired at any time. It’s undoubtedly an incident, however not within the safety sense.”
Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi wrote on X: “I deplore the perspective of sure supporters in the course of the match, which tarnished the picture of our loyal followers. Such conduct has no place in soccer.”
Nous avons débuté les Jeux Olympiques par une victoire importante 💪🏽🇲🇦
Je déplore l’perspective de certains supporters pendant le match, qui a terni l’picture de nos fidèles followers. Un tel comportement n’a pas sa place dans le soccer. Dima maghrib ♥️ pic.twitter.com/UyVe8wJhG0
— Achraf Hakimi (@AchrafHakimi) July 24, 2024
Within the confusion, it was believed the ultimate whistle had been blown when gamers headed to the locker room and followers had been advised to depart the stadium. FIFA’s official web site declared the ultimate rating 2-2.
However it later emerged that the sport had been suspended with simply minutes of play remaining and that Medina’s objective was being reviewed.
The gamers re-emerged to heat up in an empty stadium after about two hours and referee Glenn Nyberg confirmed he was reviewing video of the objective on the touchline monitor. He then confirmed it might be overturned for offside.
Morocco held on for the win because the groups performed out the ultimate three minutes.
“The sport was suspended due to safety. At no second did they speak to us about any revision (of the play),” Mascherano stated.
“Clearly it’s complicated, however we now have to maneuver ahead. It’s already occurred, it’s over. We have now to deal with the 2 video games (remaining). Save up the anger and let all of it out within the coming video games.”
Two-time gold medalist Argentina was one of many pretournament favorites and was aiming for extra {hardware} after profitable the World Cup in 2022 and back-to-back Copa Americas.
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On Saturday, Morocco is scheduled to face Ukraine at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
“We’ll make certain we reinforce safety by including limitations or non-public safety,” Le Ray stated.
Comply with Inquirer Sports activities’ particular protection of the Paris Olympics 2024.
