Argentina’s match against Morocco on the first day of men’s football at the Olympics was mired in chaos after a pitch invasion forced it to be suspended for over an hour, with play eventually resuming behind closed doors and the African side winning 2-1 after an equaliser by their opponents had been ruled out by VAR.
Cristian Medina’s goal for Argentina 16 minutes into stoppage time to level the score at 2-2 sparked wild scenes at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne, with objects also thrown at the South American players by spectators in what had been an angry climate throughout. Argentina were booed by sections of the crowd in what appeared to be a clear response to footage showing their players chanting a song the French Football Federation has labelled “racist and discriminatory” following victory at the Copa America earlier this month.
Both sets of players were taken off the pitch by the referee, with the contest deemed to have been “interrupted” by Paris 2024’s official website. It was eventually announced that the final three minutes of the game would be completed behind closed doors, which proved the case – but only after Medina’s 106th-minute strike was disallowed for an offside infringement in the build-up. All in all, it was an ugly start to the tournament and one that will bring into question the ability of organisers to run a smooth and safe Games.
Argentina, 2004 and 2008 gold medal winners, were generally short of their best against Morocco despite containing Copa America winners in Julián Álvarez, Nicolás Otamendi and goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli. Soufiane Rahimi put the Atlas Lions ahead following a superb passing move in the final seconds of the first half and Rahimi struck again from the penalty spot in the 49th minute.
Giuliano Simeone pulled one back for Javier Mascherano’s side in the 68th minute and Argentina hit the frame of the goal twice before midfielder Medina secured what he thought was a last-gasp equaliser in this Group A encounter.
Meanwhile, Spain beat Uzbekistan 2-1 in Paris thanks to goals from Marc Pubill and Sergio Gómez either side of half time.
Uzbekistan, cheered by an ecstatic crowd, had equalised just before half-time in this Group B encounter thanks to Eldor Shomurodov’s penalty following a VAR review on a foul by Pau Cubarsi.
