The Argentina Football Association (AFA) announced on Wednesday that it has filed a complaint with FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee following a tumultuous end to their opening match against Morocco in the men’s Olympic football tournament.
The match, held on Wednesday in Saint-Etienne, descended into chaos after Moroccan fans stormed the pitch in protest of the referee’s decision to add 15 minutes of extra time.
The added time allowed Argentina to score a last-minute equalizer, bringing the score to 2-2.
After the stadium was cleared of fans, the match resumed, only for Argentina’s second goal to be disallowed after a VAR review deemed it offside.
AFA President Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia expressed outrage over the incident, describing it as “regrettable” and “senseless.”
#Institucional La @AFA informa que, debido a los hechos acontecidos en el partido entre nuestra Selección Sub 23 y su similar de Marruecos, fue elevado un reclamo de carácter formal a la Comisión Disciplinaria de la FIFA.
https://t.co/NjZiP9QIJD pic.twitter.com/C2adRZSOda
— AFA (@afa) July 24, 2024
In a statement posted on social media, Tapia criticized the delay and the decision to allow the match to continue, insisting that the game should have been suspended following the pitch invasion and the violence experienced by the Argentine team.
“It was truly a circus,” said Argentina’s coach Javier Mascherano. Senior captain Lionel Messi, who was not part of the Olympic squad, also expressed his disbelief on Instagram, using a shocked emoji and the word “Unusual.”
The AFA has called on FIFA to take “necessary regulatory measures” to address the situation and ensure the safety of players.