Football at the 2024 Olympics kicked off on Wednesday with a dramatic opening match between Argentina and Morocco, setting the stage for the upcoming games ahead of the official opening ceremony on Friday.
Despite both teams being under-23 sides, Argentina was considered the favorite, making their initial 2-0 deficit against Morocco quite shocking.
Morocco’s Soufiane Rahimi scored just before halftime and doubled their lead with a penalty shortly after the break.
Giuliano Simeone managed to reduce Argentina’s deficit in the second half, and Cristian Medina scored what appeared to be a late equalizer during injury time, specifically in the 16th minute of the 15 additional minutes. This equalizer seemed to have secured a point for Argentina.
However, the situation took a chaotic turn when fans began throwing cups, bottles, and even a flare onto the pitch as the referee blew the whistle.
Earlier disruptions from pitch invaders had already raised security concerns. It was later revealed that the referee had actually suspended the match for safety reasons, not ended it. After the stadium was emptied, the teams returned 90 minutes later to complete the final three minutes of play.
Adding to the drama, VAR intervened as the match resumed. Argentina’s equalizer was overturned due to an offside call in the build-up, a decision confirmed only after the game had resumed. Morocco ultimately maintained their 2-1 lead and secured the win.
Argentinian manager Javier Mascherano expressed his frustration, calling the match “the biggest circus I have ever seen in my life.” He criticized the lengthy review process and the handling of the game suspension, emphasizing the need for his team to focus on their upcoming matches to secure qualification.
The chaotic events were compounded by off-field incidents, including a break-in at Argentina’s property, during which player Thiago Almada had his belongings stolen. Mascherano noted the irony of stringent credential checks failing to prevent these disruptions.
Lionel Messi also commented on the bizarre circumstances with an Instagram story, calling it “insolito,” meaning strange or unusual.
With emotions running high, Argentina will need to channel their frustration into their remaining games to progress in the tournament.