On Wednesday, Morocco defeated Argentina 2-1 in their first game in the men’s Olympic football tournament, but only after a late equaliser for the South American side was disallowed and the last minutes were played in an empty stadium due to crowd disturbance.
Argentina felt they had escaped the Group B match in Saint-Etienne with a 2-2 draw after Cristian Medina scored in the 16th minute of extra time.
But, as their players celebrated, objects such as bottles and plastic cups poured down from the seats, and many people entered the pitch, prompting the referee to blow the whistle.
Following a VAR review, Medina’s goal was ruled offside, and Morocco went on to win all three points.
Stadium stewards stand by as a large screen announces about the contest’s interruption due to incidents in the men’s group B football match.
Argentina’s players were booed as they entered the pitch and throughout the national anthems by the audience, the majority of whom supported Morocco.
That greeting came after Argentina players were caught on camera screaming racist chants after winning the recent Copa America.
Argentina is attempting to win men’s football gold for the third Olympics after winning in 2004 and 2008, but Javier Mascherano’s team trailed 2-0 after a brace from Soufiane Rahimi.
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi, a Paris Saint-Germain full-back and one of the tournament’s biggest stars, set up Rahimi for the opening goal after a superb play in first-half stoppage time.
Six minutes into the second half, the reigning African Under-23 champions extended their lead from the penalty spot, with UAE-based attacker Rahimi stroking in after Ilias Akhomach was taken down.
Argentina coach Mascherano, who starred in the gold medal-winning teams in Athens and Beijing, had hoped to persuade Lionel Messi to be one of the three permitted overage players in his squad, which is normally confined to those under the age of 23.
Messi chose not to attend the Paris Games, leaving Manchester City attacker Julian Alvarez and Benfica defender Nicolas Otamendi to lead their team.
Simeone, the son of former Argentina player Diego, came off the bench to equalise midway through the second half.
Medina then thought he had preserved a point in the 106th minute, nodding in after Otamendi and Bruno Amione both hit the crossbar in a frantic few seconds of action, only for Argentina to be rejected.
Iraq and Ukraine, Group B rivals, will play later in Lyon.