In a dramatic and chaotic opening football match of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Morocco secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Argentina.
The match was marred by crowd disturbances, a nearly two-hour suspension, and a disputed VAR decision that disallowed Argentina’s equalizer.
Soufiane Rahimi was the hero for Morocco, scoring twice, including a penalty in the second half.
Argentina’s Giuliano Simeone, son of Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone, scored to reduce the deficit, but Morocco held on for the win.
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The match was suspended due to a pitch invasion by a small number of spectators, leading to a lengthy delay.
The game resumed without fans in the stands, and VAR’s disallowance of Argentina’s equalizer sparked further controversy.
Argentina, seeking to advance to the quarter-finals, must now rely on favorable results against Iraq and Ukraine.
The match’s chaotic scenes have raised concerns about crowd control and safety at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Organizers have issued a statement, saying, “Paris 2024 is working with the relevant stakeholders to understand the causes and identify appropriate actions” following the incident.
