SAINT-ETIENNE, France (AP) — Morocco followers crashed the pitch to protest a late objective by Argentina on the opening match of the Paris Olympics males’s soccer event, an indignant and weird scene that left the sport suspended for almost two hours with solely minutes remaining.
Moments earlier than play resumed, the objective was disallowed by VAR for offside. Morocco held on for a 2-1 victory.
However not earlier than a livid response from Morocco followers who thought they’d been denied a essential win.
Objects had been thrown and invading Morocco followers had been tackled by safety on the sphere at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne after Argentina tied it 2-2 with a objective from Cristian Medina the sixteenth minute of added time.
There have been photos of some Argentina gamers flinching when what gave the impression to be a flare was thrown. Bottles and cups had been strewn over the sphere by the tip.
It was initially thought that the full-time whistle had been blown. Even FIFA’s web site declared the sport over. Video boards knowledgeable followers the match was suspended they usually needed to depart the stadium.
About an hour after the incident, organizers on the venue mentioned the match was not formally over and VAR was reviewing whether or not the objective would stand.
Gamers finally re-entered the sphere after an extended delay and started to heat up earlier than the sport might be concluded. After warmups, gamers from each groups stood on the sphere within the in any other case empty stadium whereas an official reviewed the video. He provided a short clarification to Argentina’s gamers after the objective was overturned whereas gamers on Morocco’s bench celebrated.
Play went on for about three minutes after the resumption earlier than the ultimate whistle was blown.
Morocco had led the sport 2-0 earlier than Argentina’s battle again.
Giuliano Simeone scored within the 68th minute and Medina leveled the sport deep into time added on.
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