Argentina file complaint after controversial Olympic football opener

Argentina person revenge a title pinch FIFA complete nan contention successful Wednesday’s Olympic shot opener against Morocco.

The Copa America winners mislaid 2-1 to Morocco successful a lucifer that was marred by crowd trouble, pinch a precocious equaliser ruled retired by VAR aft play had been suspended for 2 hours.

In nan celebrations of what they thought was Cristian Medina’s equaliser successful nan 16th infinitesimal of added time, fans spilled onto nan transportation and players were targeted pinch explosives thrown onto nan field.

The last 3 minutes of nan crippled was past played much than 4 hours aft nan original kick-off clip successful an quiet stadium successful St Etienne.

The Argentine FA (AFA) demanded FIFA return nan “necessary regulatory measures beryllium taken for an arena of specified seriousness.”

A connection added: “It is imperative to guarantee nan information of nan protagonists for nan serene improvement of this beautiful athletics that is shot and from nan location of Argentine Football, we will do what is basal to make this happen.”

Argentina leader Javier Mascherano described nan crippled arsenic “the biggest circus I’ve ever seen successful my life.”

🤯 INCROYABLE SÉQUENCE : l’arbitre d’Argentine-Maroc annule le deuxième but argentin… deux heures après la suspension de la rencontre !

Les joueurs sont revenus sur le terrain move disputer les trois dernières minutes et le Maroc s’est finalement imposé 2-1 #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/1XswW8uXin

— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) July 24, 2024

He later added successful his post-match property conference: “I person not been a coach for long, but ne'er successful my profession arsenic a subordinate person I seen a business for illustration that,” said Mascherano, who won golden pinch Argentina successful 2004 and 2008.

“It is simply a circus. But that is really it is. We cannot power it. I told nan boys that now we request to look forward, effort to get nan six points that will let america to suffice and that each this should capable america pinch power and anger for what we person up of us.

“It is simply a ugliness that this should hap and poison nan tournament. This wouldn’t moreover hap successful a neighbourhood tournament. It’s pathetic.

“Beyond nan Olympic spirit, nan organisation needs to beryllium up to modular and astatine nan moment, unfortunately, it is not.”

A connection from nan tourney organisers said: “The shot lucifer betwixt Argentina and Morocco astatine nan Saint-Etienne Stadium was suspended owed to a transportation penetration by a mini number of spectators.

“The lucifer past restarted and was capable to reason safely. Paris 2024 is moving pinch nan applicable stakeholders to understand nan causes and place due actions.”

Argentina play Iraq successful their 2nd crippled connected Saturday, pinch Morocco up against Ukraine.