Janice R. Andrews
The men’s soccer match between Argentina and Morocco on Wednesday featured a pitch invasion, a record 15 minutes of injury time, and a contentious VAR ruling in a spectacular turn of events during the Paris Olympics 2024. After an hour-long wait, Cristian Medina’s late goal—which at first looked to earn a tie for Argentina—was ultimately declared offside, giving Morocco a 2-1 victory.
When Medina scored what appeared to be an important equalizer for Argentina deep into injury time, the frenzy in Saint-Étienne broke out. The Argentine supporters rejoiced after the goal, but their happiness was fleeting. The game was stopped for more than an hour as a result of the fans storming the field. Many thought that the game had ended in a 2-2 tie.
As the match officials attempted to restore order, the scene became more heated. The Argentine players, who were already the target of animosity from the audience because of their contentious post-Copa América celebrations, were attacked with objects. Tensions were heightened by the French Football Federation’s condemnation of the Argentine team’s shouts during these festivities as “racist and discriminatory.”
The game started with at least fifteen minutes of injury time added by the referee; Argentina struck the crossbar twice prior to Medina’s apparent equalizer. But while authorities worked to clear the field, the pitch invasion prompted both teams to withdraw to their locker rooms.
Following a stoppage of almost an hour, the match officials made the decision to examine Medina’s goal using VAR. Morocco’s advantage was restored when the VAR review found that Medina was offside, negating Argentina’s equalizer. Without any spectators in the stadium, the sides warmed up once again on the field and played the last three minutes of the game.
Sharp emotions were sparked by the contentious decision and the turbulent circumstances. Legendary Argentine player Lionel Messi posted “Insàlito” (unbelievable) on Instagram along with an emoji of astonishment to show how shocked he was. Javier Mascherano, the head coach of Argentina, was even more harsh, referring to the event as “the biggest circus I have ever seen in my life.”
Not only will the Argentina vs. Morocco game be remembered for its outcome, but also for the unparalleled drama and mayhem that followed. There have been plenty of controversy surrounding the Paris Olympics 2024, but this match has raised the bar for unexpected developments in Olympic soccer history.
