The Olympic men’s soccer tournament began in a chaotic and violent manner on Wednesday, with Morocco pulling off a surprising 2-1 victory over two-time gold medalist Argentina.
The outcome of the match only reveals a portion of the story, as the game in Saint-Etienne took a dramatic turn towards the end. The match had to be halted for almost two hours due to enraged Morocco fans storming the field and throwing bottles from the stands in protest of a late goal scored by Argentina in the 16th minute of added time.
The chaotic and bizarre scene led to confusion whether the game had ended or was temporarily suspended. The crowd was instructed to leave the stadium, but the players remained and eventually returned to play the final three minutes of added time in front of empty stands.
Just before the resumption of play, Cristian Medina’s controversial goal was disallowed by VAR for being offside, securing the victory for Morocco.
RELATED STORY | Previewing the Paris Summer Olympics: When does it start, how to watch
The Argentine soccer federation lodged a formal complaint with FIFA to address the concerning incident.
“Paris 2024 is collaborating with relevant stakeholders to investigate the causes and determine necessary actions,” a spokesperson for Paris organizers stated.
Morocco fans were incensed as they believed Medina’s goal had cost their team a crucial win against a powerhouse in international soccer.
There was a commotion on the field at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard as objects were thrown and invading fans were tackled by security after Medina appeared to have tied the game 2-2.
With bottles and cups littering the pitch, the game was halted.
Initially, it was believed that the final whistle had been blown, even FIFA’s website indicated the game had ended.
About an hour later, the venue organizers clarified that the game was not officially over and that VAR would review the disputed goal.
After a lengthy delay, players returned to the field to conclude the game. Morocco held on to their lead as the match ended after a brief period of play following the interruption.
RELATED STORY | Coco Gauff named Team USA’s youngest-ever flag bearer, joins Lebron James
The match saw Morocco in the lead by 2-0 before Argentina’s comeback. Giuliano Simeone scored in the 68th minute before the controversial goal by Medina sparked chaos.
The game was watched in cafes across Morocco, with intense national pride prevailing since the country’s successful run in the 2022 World Cup.
Zak Eddakir, a 28-year-old from Rabat, explained the fans’ reaction, attributing it to soccer’s significant role in Morocco and the disappointment of a potentially game-changing call by the referee.
“In football, it’s normal,” he said. “When you see something like that, it’s really hard for supporters. Here, football is life. Even the king supports it.”
Following Morocco’s win, hairdresser Khadija Seffany embraced her friends and neighbors in the street. She initially thought the delay in disallowing the goal hinted at bias towards Argentina due to Morocco being an Arab country.
Seffany emphasized the importance of every Olympic match and the passion for football in Morocco.
“Here, we’re one of the best in the world. We drink football. We eat football,” Seffany exclaimed.
