Although the official lighting of the París 2024 cauldron is still two days away, this Wednesday's opening day of Olympic events has already produced surreal scenes during the Argentina-Morocco soccer match, including fan invasions of the field and objects thrown from the stands.
The incidents occurred after the main referee added 15 minutes of extra time when Argentina was losing 1-2. The decision did not sit well with the supporters of the “Atlas Lions”, and tensions escalated when the South Americans equalized.
Without much hesitation, Moroccan fans began throwing cups, lighting flares, and storming the pitch at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. The images quickly went viral on social media.
Due to the situation, "the players were taken off the field after the goal for their safety," stated the Organizing Committee in its live broadcast on Olympics.com.
"It's the biggest circus I've ever seen in my life," said coach Javier Mascherano to the press about the events.
Since referee Glenn Nyberg never blew the final whistle, the players had to return to an empty stadium. However, there was a significant change: after one hour and 40 minutes of VAR review, Argentina's second goal was disallowed due to an offside foot, according to ESPN. Ultimately, Morocco won 2-1 in the opening match of Group B.
The winning goals came from Soufiane Rahimi at 45+2 minutes and a penalty at 49 minutes, while Giuliano Simone, son of Diego “El Cholo" Simeone, scored for Argentina at 69 minutes.
The París 2024 Olympics will be officially inaugurated on Friday, July 26.
Key Questions About Paris 2024 Olympic Soccer Controversies
Given the dramatic start to the Olympic soccer events at Paris 2024, many are left with pressing questions about the incidents that unfolded during the Argentina-Morocco match. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Why did the referee add 15 minutes of extra time?
The referee added 15 minutes of extra time due to various stoppages and delays throughout the match.
What caused the Moroccan fans to react violently?
The Moroccan fans were upset by the referee's decision to add extra time and the subsequent equalizing goal from Argentina, which heightened tensions and led to their unruly behavior.
What was the outcome of the VAR review?
After one hour and 40 minutes of reviewing the play, the VAR disallowed Argentina's second goal due to an offside position.
Who scored the goals in the match?
Soufiane Rahimi scored twice for Morocco, while Giuliano Simone scored for Argentina.