Morocco faced off against Argentina in the opening match of the Paris Olympics men’s soccer tournament, but the game took a chaotic turn when Morocco fans stormed the pitch in protest of a late goal by Argentina. The match was suspended for nearly two hours, with only minutes left to play.
Just as play was about to resume, VAR intervened and disallowed the contentious goal for offside, giving Morocco a narrow 2-1 victory. The decision sparked a furious reaction from the Moroccan fans, who believed they had been robbed of a crucial win. Security had to intervene as objects were thrown onto the field and fans tried to invade the pitch.
The situation escalated further when Argentina managed to equalize with a goal from Cristian Medina in the 16th minute of added time. Chaos ensued as bottles and cups were thrown onto the field, prompting fears for the safety of the players. It was a tense and unprecedented moment in the tournament.
Initially, it was believed that the game had ended, with FIFA’s website even declaring the match over. Fans were informed that the game was suspended and they were asked to leave the stadium. However, an hour later, organizers clarified that the match was still under review by VAR to determine the validity of the goal.
After a prolonged delay, players eventually returned to the field to conclude the match. Following a brief warm-up, the official ruling overturned Argentina’s goal, much to the disappointment of the players. The match resumed for a few more minutes before the final whistle was blown, confirming Morocco’s victory.
Despite leading 2-0 earlier in the game, Morocco had to withstand a determined fightback from Argentina, with Giuliano Simeone and Cristian Medina scoring to level the game. It was a dramatic and eventful start to the Paris Olympics men’s soccer tournament, setting the stage for an exciting competition ahead.