Sports 5 months ago

From Chaos to Circus: Argentina Coach's Harsh Words on Olympic Soccer Opener

Argentina coach slams Olympic soccer opener as a 'circus' after dramatic goal disallowed and chaotic pitch invasion led to a two-hour delay.

In their Olympic soccer debut, Argentina seemed to have equalized against Morocco in the dying moments, only for their goal to be controversially disallowed. This led to a chaotic situation where a pitch invasion delayed the final three minutes by nearly two hours, forcing the game to resume in an empty stadium.

Argentina coach Javier Mascherano described the scenes as “the biggest circus I’ve ever seen in my life,” highlighting the disarray that marred the start of the Paris Summer Games.

Soufiane Rahimi scored twice for Morocco at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, giving them a 2-0 lead before Giuliano Simeone pulled one back for Argentina in the 68th minute. The game descended into chaos in added time when Cristian Medina appeared to level the score in the 106th minute. However, the goal was reviewed by the video assistant referee (VAR) and eventually disallowed.

The disruption included projectiles being thrown by fans and some supporters entering the field. After a lengthy delay, the teams returned to finish the remaining minutes with no spectators in the stands. Morocco ultimately secured a 2-1 win.

Mascherano criticized the situation, expressing frustration over the lack of communication and the decision to complete the match after such a long interruption. He described the events as a scandal, emphasizing the seriousness of the Olympics compared to a local tournament.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIFA have been contacted for comments. The Olympic soccer tournament features under-23 teams with three overage players permitted per squad. Despite key players like Lionel Messi not participating, Julian Alvarez and Nicolas Otamendi represent Argentina. The Olympic opening ceremony is set for Friday.