Ugly scenes marred Argentina’s match against Morocco in their opening fixture of the men’s Olympic football tournament with riot police required to protect players after fans stormed onto the pitch.
The match had been highly anticipated amid Argentina players signing a racist chant following their victory at the Copa America earlier this month, targeted at French players.
Argentina’s national anthem was booed pre-match, with the South Americans then going 2-0 down against a well-backed Moroccan team in Saint-Etienne.
A goal from Giuliano Simeone and a stoppage time effort from Cristian Medina saw Argentina fight back to level the match.
Medina’s last minute goal was followed by a pitch invasion from some Moroccan fans, while flares appeared to have been thrown at Argentina’s players forcing a delay to the match.
Riot police were pictured after Moroccan fans invaded the pitch after Argentina’s last goal
Pitch invaders had made their way onto the playing surface after Argentina’s last gasp goal
The pitch invasion led to a delay to the match with the referee eventually blowing for full time
Objects were thrown from the stands after Argentina scored a late equaliser in Saint-Etienne
Cups were thrown at Argentina’s players as their team celebrated Cristian Medina’s goal
The full-time whistle had not officially been blown in the match, with the score level at 2-2 after Argentina’s equaliser.
Spanish outlet Marca reported that Argentina’s players had been seen flinching after ‘noise bombs’ were allegedly thrown at them in the closing stages.
Players were taken off by the referee for their own safety at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium following the crowd reaction to Argentina’s equalising goal.
A message has been displayed at the stadium, reading ‘your session has been suspended, please leave the stadium’.
Players are now set to complete the final six minutes of stoppage time behind closed doors with fans having since left the venue.
Argentina’s national anthem had been booed ahead of the match amid a racism storm involving Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
A message was displayed informing fans to make their way to the nearest exit
Giuliano Simeone was seen on his phone after the group stage match was suspended
The South American nation kickstarted their campaign against Morocco, and the players lined up for the customary anthems before kick-off.
As the Argentina anthem played around the venue in Saint Etienne, it was met with widespread boos from the crowd.
And just over an hour after kick-off in the football, Argentina’s rugby sevens side were loudly booed ahead of their clash against Kenya.
The boos drowning out the anthem came just over a week after Chelsea footballer Fernandez filmed himself and his Argentina team-mates singing a chant directed at France’s black players following their Copa America triumph.
The song, which also singles out Kylian Mbappe, was condemned by the French Football Federation who filed a complaint to FIFA.
Argentina had their national anthem booed amid a racism storm surrounding Enzo Fernandez
Fernandez filmed himself singing the chant on Argentina’s bus during their Copa America celebrations
Argentina’s rugby sevens stars were also booed while singing their national anthem in Paris
Fernandez’s Chelsea team-mate Wesley Fofana also reposted the video and labelled the chant ‘uninhibited racism’ before unfollowing Fernandez on Instagram.
Two other Chelsea players – Malo Gusto and Axel Disasi – also unfollowed Fernandez.
The midfielder subsequently apologised for the video and insisted he is not racist, while Chelsea reacted by condemning ‘all forms of discriminatory behaviour’ prior to conducting their own investigation.
But fans inside the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium and the Stade de France had clearly not forgotten what has gone on in recent days, and made their feelings clear how they felt about the behaviour of the Argentina footballers last week.
France’s former football captain Hugo Lloris described the controversial song as an ‘attack on French people’ this week and urged that it was a mistake that must been learned from.
‘It doesn’t matter if you are in a moment of euphoria because you have won an important trophy,’ he told BBC Sport. ‘It demands even more responsibility when you are a winner.
‘You don’t want to hear or see this kind of thing in football. We all stand against discrimination and racism.
‘I just think and hope it is a mistake. We all make mistakes sometimes and hopefully they will learn from it.’
Relations between France and Argentina worsened after the tense and enthralling 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, which saw Lionel Messi and Co narrowly win on penalties following a 3-3 draw.
Kylian Mbappe, who netted a hat-trick in the showpiece, was ruthlessly mocked as part of Argentina’s overjubilant celebrations.
Despite playing a key role in Argentina’s World Cup and Copa America triumphs, Fernandez is not playing at the Olympics and is currently enjoying time away from the pitch ahead of the new season with Chelsea.
He was paraded at his old club River Plate over the weekend, only for the whole crowd to start singing the chant aimed at France’s black players once more.
The storm surrounding Fernandez is refusing to go away, but Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has insisted he is ready to welcome Fernandez back into his squad next week when he returns from his holiday.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris described the controversial song as an ‘attack on French people’
Enzo Fernandez was paraded by his boyhood club River Plate on Sunday
Footage shared on social media showed fans in the stadium signing the chant aimed at France’s black players
Speaking out in the US where Chelsea are currently on their pre-season tour, Maresca said: ‘The player did a statement, apologised, and the club did the same. I don’t think there is something to add, the situation is already clear.’
Asked if there will be problems bringing him back into the squad, Maresca added: ‘I don’t think so, to be honest. At the end, they are all human beings, I don’t think there are any bad intentions from any one of them.
‘When Enzo is back, I don’t think we will have any problems, the player already clarified the situation, and the club did the same. There is nothing to add.
‘He is not a bad human being. It can happen, I don’t think there are any problems at all. I spoke with Enzo, I spoke with a lot of them. The player has made a statement and apologised, it is clear.’
Reece James also broached the subject as the Chelsea captain said: ‘Enzo acknowledged he did wrong and apologised to the club and the team. I have spoken to Enzo and everyone involved but those conversations have to stay in house.’
Argentina’s tournament did not get off to an ideal start as they fell 1-0 down before half time when Bilal El Khannouss finished off a fine team move from Morocco.
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