Morocco’s Stunning victory over Argentina Amid Chaos: Olympic Football 2024
Morocco pulled off a sensational 2-1 victory against two-time gold medalists Argentina as the 2024 Olympic men’s football tournament kicked off with high drama.
Chaos broke out during the Saint-Etienne match as Moroccan supporters stormed the field and threw bottles in protest at an Argentina late goal that raised doubts.
The outcome only partially reflects the dramatic conclusion to the Saint-Etienne match, which had to be postponed for over two hours due to enraged Moroccan supporters who stormed onto the field and hurled bottles from the bleachers in protest at Argentina’s late goal in the 16th minute of added time. There was confusion over whether the game had ended or been paused due to the furious and unusual scenario.
Players stayed in the stadium and returned to the field for a final three minutes of extra time in front of empty stands, despite orders for the audience to leave.
Cristian Medina’s disputed goal was rejected by VAR for offside just moments before play began, and Morocco managed to hold on for the victory.
The world governing organization FIFA has received an official request from the Argentine football federation to “take the necessary regulatory measures for such a serious event.”
A representative for the Paris organizers stated, “Paris 2024 is working with the relevant stakeholders to understand the causes and identify appropriate actions.”
When Moroccan supporters believed that Medina’s goal had cost their team a crucial victory over one of the biggest teams in world football, they erupted in anger. As Medina looked to level the match 2-2, objects were hurled and trespassing Moroccan fans were tackled by security on the field at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
Images of some Argentina players trembling after something that looked like a flare was tossed onto the field surfaced. By the time the game stopped, bottles and cups were all over the pitch.
At first, it was believed that someone had blown the full-time whistle. The game was declared over even by FIFA’s website. The event’s organizers declared an hour after the incident that the game was still ongoing and that VAR would examine whether the goal stood.
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After a protracted delay, players returned to the field and warmed up before the game could finish. Players from both sides stood on the pitch in the otherwise empty stadium following warmups as a referee watched the footage. He gave Argentina a succinct explanation as the Moroccan bench players rejoiced.
After the restart, play continued for almost three minutes until the last whistle was blown. Morocco had taken a 2-0 lead into the game prior to Argentina’s comeback. In the 68th minute, Giuliano Simeone scored, and then Medina’s goal caused mayhem.
Morocco, whose pride has grown since reaching the 2022 World Cup semifinal, watched the match on TV at cafes all around the country. Tea-drinking men yelled at TV screens during a heat wave that broke records, and they watched in dismay as supporters flocked to the field.
Rabat resident Zak Eddakir, 28, explained that the Moroccan supporters’ outrage stemmed from their love of football, their inherent disillusionment at a draw, and their belief that a referee’s decision might finish a match.
“That’s normal in football,” he remarked. “When supporters witness something like that, it may be rather difficult. Football is life here. The king concurs with it as well.
Following Morocco’s victory, hairdresser Khadija Seffany poured into the street to greet her friends and neighbors. Because Morocco is an Arab nation, at first she believed the delay in declaring the goal offside indicated the referees wanted Argentina to win. She stated that every game played at the Olympics will be significant.
We’re among the greatest in the world right here. We sip football-related beverages. We consume football, Seffany remarked.
