'The biggest circus I've ever seen!' - Argentina boss Javier Mascherano left fuming after last-minute Olympics equaliser against Morocco is ruled out by VAR following lengthy delay

The opening football match of the Paris 2024 Olympics was marred by crowd disturbances, leading to a temporary suspension that lasted nearly 75 minutes and was subsequently completed in an empty arena at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne. With Morocco holding a 2-1 lead, Argentina seemingly equalised 16 minutes into second-half injury time. This goal led to chaos as bottles were thrown onto the pitch and some Moroccan supporters invaded the field, which prompted the referee to halt the game.

After fans were evacuated, the match resumed at 18:00 and Argentina's equaliser was soon disallowed for offside following a review by the video assistant referee (VAR). Morocco played out the additional three minutes without conceding, leading Argentina to concede a 2-1 shock defeat in their campaign opener.

Reflecting on the chaotic events, Mascherano slammed the organisers and 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. But that is how it is. We cannot control it. I told the boys that now we need to look forward and try to get the six points that will allow us to qualify and that all this should fill us with energy and anger for what we have ahead of us."

Mascherano revealed that team captains initially "decided not to play on" and the organisers "called FIFA" before deciding to proceed with the match.
"It is a disgrace that this should happen and poison the tournament. This wouldn't even happen in a neighbourhood tournament. It's pathetic," he added.

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

The organisers put out a statement that read: "The football match between Argentina and Morocco at the Saint-Etienne Stadium was suspended due to a pitch invasion by a small number of spectators. The match then restarted and was able to conclude safely. Paris 2024 is working with the relevant stakeholders to understand the causes and identify appropriate actions."

The Argentina FA has already submitted a written complaint to FIFA's disciplinary commission narrating the events of the match. Nonetheless, Mascherano can hardly afford to focus on off-the-pitch proceedings as his troops must secure the three points against Iraq on July 27 to keep their hopes of a knockout berth alive.