SAINT-ETIENNE: Chaos redolent of Olympic Games football a century ago overtook Paris 2024 as Argentina lost amid crowd trouble and VAR confusion to Morocco in the former champions’ opening men’s Group B clash.

Morocco had been 2-0 ahead on goals from Sofiane Rahimi – one a penalty – but Argentina pulled back one and then Cristian Medina thought he had headed an equaliser in one minute more than the original 15 scheduled minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half.

Cups and bottles were thrown at the celebrating Argentinian players and coaching staff by Moroccan fans as well as a flare. A number of fans in Morocco colours also evaded security staff and stewards and ran on to the pitch.

Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg immediately took the players off the pitch and a message on a big screen in the stadium said: “Your session has been suspended please make your way to the nearest exit.”

Argentina’s players, who included recent Copa America winners Julian Alvarez, Nicolas Otamendi and Geronimo Rulli, thought initially that the referee had signalled the end of the match.

Two hours later, after the stadium had been cleared, it was decided to play the remaining three minutes 15 seconds. The referee immediately went to his pitchside video and disallowed Medina’s goal because another player had just rejoined the action from an offside position.

Argentina’s coach Javier Mascherano, an Olympic winner in 2004 and 2008, was furious.

He said: “I have not been a coach for long but never in my career as a player have I seen a situation like that. It is a circus . . . It is a disgrace that this should happen and poison the tournament. This wouldn’t even happen in a neighbourhood tournament. It’s pathetic.

“Beyond the Olympic spirit, the organisation needs to be up to standard and at the moment, unfortunately, it is not.”

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