Morocco Triumphs in Chaotic Olympic Football Match Against Argentina
Crowd trouble marred the opening Olympics football match as Argentina’s stoppage-time equaliser was ruled out nearly two hours later, handing Morocco a chaotic 2-1 victory.
In the Group B clash, Morocco led 2-1 in the final stages of the game when Argentina hit the frame of the goal twice. Midfielder Cristian Medina then struck in the 16th minute of stoppage time to level the match in Saint-Etienne. However, his equaliser sparked a dangerous scene as objects were thrown onto the pitch, prompting a suspension of play and a pitch invasion by Moroccan fans in Lyon. For safety reasons, players were taken off the field.
Supporters were instructed to leave the stadium with a message projected on screens that read, “Your session has been suspended, please leave the stadium.” After nearly two hours without play, the game resumed behind closed doors with three minutes left on the clock. Medina’s 106th-minute equaliser was subsequently disallowed due to an offside in the build-up.
The match ended 2-1 in favor of Morocco, thanks to Soufiane Rahimi’s double. A statement by Games organisers on Thursday read: “The football match between Argentina and Morocco at the Saint-Etienne Stadium was suspended due to a pitch invasion by a small number of spectators. The match then restarted and was able to conclude safely. Paris 2024 is working with the relevant stakeholders to understand the causes and identify appropriate actions.”
Argentina coach Javier Mascherano described the events at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard as the “biggest circus” he had ever seen. “I can’t explain what happened. We spent about an hour and a half in the dressing room where they never told us what was going to happen,” Mascherano said. “The Moroccan captains didn’t want to play, we didn’t want to continue, and fans threw things at us. It’s the biggest circus I’ve ever seen in my life, I don’t know why they spent an hour and 20 minutes reviewing a play. If there is offside in Medina’s goal, let the game go on with the momentum we have. I don’t think the game should be played for three minutes after an hour and a half.”
Argentina’s initial equaliser led to bottles and cups being thrown by Moroccan fans, with some invading the pitch. The game was then suspended, and fans were asked to leave the stadium. After over an hour, the match resumed in an empty stadium, and Argentina’s equaliser was disallowed by VAR for offside. Morocco managed to see out the final three minutes, securing a chaotic and dramatic victory.
