A pitch invasion caused chaos at an Olympics football match between Argentina and Morocco – with a video review ruling out an equalising goal two hours after the game was suspended.
In what Argentina manager Javier Mascherano described as a “circus”, his team were denied what looked like a 2-2 draw 16 minutes into added time after protesting Morocco fans forced the game to be suspended.
Pitch invaders are detained by stewards. Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
The decision ruling out the goal was delivered about two hours after play was halted when the teams re-emerged on to the pitch to finish the match in an empty stadium.
It meant Argentina eventually lost the match 2-1.
Argentina coach Javier Mascherano. Pic: Reuters
“It’s a circus, I’ve never experienced anything like it in my entire sporting career,” Mascherano said in comments reported by Argentinian newspaper La Nacion.
Immediately after Argentina player Cristian Medina looked to have made the score 2-2, bottles, cups and what appeared to be a flare were thrown on to the pitch.
Several fans in Morocco colours also ran on to the pitch, with some being escorted off the pitch by stewards.
Pic: Reuters
Pic: AP
Video boards informed fans to leave Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in the French city of Saint-Etienne.
It was initially believed the full-time whistle had been blown and even FIFA’s website had declared the game over – but an hour later, organisers said the match was not officially finished.
Reuters news agency reports the venue manager said the game had been interrupted and a decision about whether the match would be completed was being discussed.
Pic: Reuters
Meanwhile, an official reviewed the video of Medina’s goal and informed players it had been overruled as one of Argentina’s players was judged marginally offside in the lead-up to their equaliser.
The two sides played for about three minutes in an empty stadium before the final whistle officially blew.
Morocco players celebrate after the match. Pic: Reuters
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Argentina had been two goals down before scoring in the 68th minute and believing they had tied the game deep into added time through Medina.
Following the controversy, Argentina star Lionel Messi – who is not in the squad for the Olympics – shared a black-background post on Instagram with the word “insolito” – unusual – alongside a shocked emoji.
Mascherano also claimed thieves had broken into the team’s training ground and stole a watch and rings belonging to player Thiago Almada a day before the match.