Angry Mascherano: Argentina’s disallowed goal? This is the biggest circus I’ve ever seen in my life. I don’t think it should have been played three minutes past the hour and a half mark

A match to remember. The opening match of the Olympic tournament between Argentina and Morocco ended 2-2, or so the public thought. The players eventually had to return to the pitch after an hour and a half, Argentina’s equalising goal was called back and three minutes were played. Coach Javier Mascherano was really upset after the game.

• Football at the Olympic tournament has begun
• The very first match triggered a wave of negative reactions
• The reason for this is the result, which changed long after the game was over

The Olympic Games have begun and immediately stirred up controversy. The opening match of the football tournament, in which the teams of Argentina and Morocco competed, is to blame. The match ended 2-2 after a late goal by the reigning world champion.

The goal, however, did not go down well with the Moroccan fans who invaded the pitch. So the referee blew the whistle to end the match, or so the public thought. The match was only interrupted and both teams had no idea what was going on.

Eventually, after an hour and a half, they returned to the pitch and had to finish the final three minutes. Moreover, the score was no longer 2:2 but 1:2. Argentina’s penalty was called back and Morocco celebrated the victory after the final whistle.

“It’s a shame that something like this happens and poisons the tournament. Something like this wouldn’t even happen in a village tournament,” Argentina coach Javier Mascherano told a news conference.

“It is unpleasant that the game was interrupted for a long time. If you want to check something, it should be done immediately,” added the Barcelona icon, trying to describe what actually happened during that hour and a half.

“I can’t explain what happened. We spent an hour and a half in the dressing room and they didn’t tell us what was going to happen. The Moroccans didn’t want to play, we didn’t want to continue and the fans threw things at us. This is the biggest circus I’ve ever seen in my life. I don’t know why it took them so long.

If Medina’s goal was offside, the game should have gone on to take advantage of the pressure we had. I don’t think they should have finished three minutes after an hour and a half,” Mascherano finished.

Source: LOH 2024, Sport.cz