The recent quarter-final match in the men’s Olympic football tournament between France and Argentina erupted into chaos on the pitch.
The host nation, France, coached by Thierry Henry, secured a narrow 1-0 victory, which advances them to the semi-finals where they will face Egypt, thanks to an early goal from Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace.
This match is just another episode in the intense rivalry between these two football powerhouses.
The animosity boiled over since Argentina’s dramatic win over Les Bleus in a penalty shootout in the FIFA World Cup final in December 2022.
Following that victory, some Argentinian fans took to singing a controversial chant that has drawn condemnation for being racist, homophobic, and transphobic.
Both teams clashed following France’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in Bordeaux.
This chant resurfaced when Argentina celebrated their Copa America victory this summer in the USA.
Prior to kickoff, the crowd at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux notably booed the Argentine national anthem.
The events that unfolded after the final whistle were met with jeers from the audience.
Chaos ensued rapidly; one moment, French substitutes were seen running onto the pitch to join their teammates in celebrations, and the next, a massive brawl involving around 30 players broke out.
Further updates to come.
