PARIS: France coach Thierry Henry called the behaviour of some of his players unacceptable after their 1-0 Olympic quarter-final victory over Argentina in Bordeaux ended in a brawl and a red card for midfielder Enzo Millot.
Hosts France knocked out Argentina on Friday to avenge the country’s defeat in the last World Cup final in a bitter rivalry recently fuelled by a video of Argentine players directing chants labelled as racist at French players.
But the triumph, courtesy of a fifth-minute goal by Jean-Philippe Mateta, was tarnished moments after the final whistle when French celebrations in front of Argentine players led to a brief brawl in which Millot was shown a red card.
Henry told Argentinian media: “I do not agree with what happened at the end. One of my players got a red card and I don’t accept that, it shouldn’t happen. I went to shake (Argentine coach Javier) Mascherano’s hand and, when I turned around, it had happened.”
France play Egypt on Monday for a place in the final in a bid to win their first Olympic soccer gold medal in 40 years.
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