The recent Olympic football match between Argentina and Morocco in Paris turned into an unusual and chaotic spectacle. Argentina faced a staggering defeat after a lengthy delay of over an hour and forty minutes due to various complications, including the controversial use of the VAR, which invalidated a potential equalizer by Medina.
During the match, an invasion of the field by a large group of Moroccan fans resulted in several violent incidents, including projectiles being thrown at the Argentine players. Compounding the confusion, the Swedish referee, Glenn Nyberg, allowed the teams a ten-minute warm-up period to restart the last 180 seconds of the match. This surreal scene unfolded in an almost empty Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne.
In a post-match press conference, Argentine coach Javier Mascherano expressed his bewilderment at the events. He recounted that the team spent an hour and a half in the locker room without clear communication regarding the situation. “We were told, ‘We’re looking into it,'” he said. Moreover, the Moroccan captains reportedly did not want to resume play after the disruptions. Mascherano emphasized the lack of security, noting that the match was stopped seven times, an unprecedented occurrence for him at such a high level of sports.
The coach also noted, “The second half didn’t happen. The interruptions due to Morocco’s time-wasting tactics are understandable, but having to stop for other reasons multiple times is simply unacceptable.” When the match finally resumed, Mascherano described the scene as “the biggest circus” he had ever witnessed, criticizing not only the delays but also the brief conclusion to the match that followed.
He pointed out that the players received no updates during the interruptions, and even after their long wait, they were unclear about the nature of the VAR review. The official Olympic site initially recorded the match as a 2-2 draw. “They suspended the match for safety reasons, but we got no information about any review process. The referee never came to explain things to us,” Mascherano stated.
In a surprising turn, Mascherano revealed that the Argentine team had been robbed hours before their match. “Yesterday, during training, someone broke in and stole things. Thiago Almada lost a watch and some rings. We didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, but it is frustrating,” he shared.
Despite the turmoil, Mascherano urged his team to “turn the page” and focus on the positives as they prepare for the next matches. He acknowledged the team’s disorientation but insisted on their potential to recover, stating, “We’re going to need two victories to qualify.”
However, he reiterated that the interruptions were outrageous, saying, “I’ve never seen a match suspended for an hour and a half only to resume for three minutes after a warming up period. Even when Otamendi was involved in a play that could have been reviewed for a penalty, it wasn’t addressed. They had plenty of time to do so.”
Mascherano underscored that while Morocco’s players were reluctant to continue, the incident was primarily a failure of organization within the match itself. “This isn’t a local tournament; it’s the Olympics. How can you stop a game this many times?” he questioned, highlighting the significance of the event.
As the news develops, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the tournament and the teams involved.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/deportes/2024/07/24/mascherano-hablo-sobre-el-escandalo-que-vivio-la-seleccion-argentina-en-el-debut-de-los-juegos-olimpicos/
