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The Argentine Football Federation (AFA) has officially filed a complaint with FIFA following the incidents that occurred during the opening match of the under-23 team at the Paris Olympic Games (Paris 2024) on Wednesday.
#Institucional The @AFA informs that, due to the events that occurred in the match between our Under-23 team and its Moroccan counterpart, a formal complaint was submitted to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
— AFA (@afa) July 24, 2024
? https://t.co/NjZiP9QIJD pic.twitter.com/C2adRZSOda
The match against Morocco ended in a 2-1 victory for the Atlas Cubs after a nearly two-hour suspension caused by Moroccan supporters invading the pitch, throwing bottles, and setting off fireworks.
Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi condemned the behavior of the fans on X, stating, «I deplore the behavior of certain supporters during the match, which tarnished the image of our loyal fans. Such behavior has no place in football. Dima maghrib».
We started the Olympic Games with an important victory ????
— Achraf Hakimi (@AchrafHakimi) July 24, 2024
I deplore the behavior of certain supporters during the match, which tarnished the image of our loyal fans. Such behavior has no place in football. Dima maghrib ♥️ pic.twitter.com/UyVe8wJhG0
Forced back to the locker room during the lengthy interruption, the Argentine players eventually returned to warm up and resume the match. AFA president Claudio Tapia described this decision as «absurd» and «regrettable», calling for FIFA to impose sanctions on those responsible. He also criticized the disregard for the captains' opinion that the match should not be restarted.
Argentina's under-23 coach, Javier Mascherano, labeled the events at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Étienne a «circus», while Lionel Messi expressed his dissatisfaction, calling the situation «unusual».
Argentine newspapers strongly reacted to the controversial defeat. La Nación described the match as «Argentina vs Morocco: the behind-the-scenes of a scandal that ridiculed the Olympic Games», while El Clarín questioned «The intrigue of the Argentina-Morocco scandal: the powerlessness of the players and FIFA's version». La Capital called it an «Olympic scandal», echoed by Crónica's headline «The scandalous defeat of Argentina against Morocco». Olé simply labeled it a «shameful end».
Argentina will face Iraq and Ukraine in the upcoming Group B matches of the Paris Olympic football tournament.
