France and Argentina players clash in ugly scenes after Olympics football grudge match

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Evening Standard

·2 August 2024

France and Argentina players clash in ugly scenes after Olympics football grudge match

Tempers boil over after Jean-Philippe Mateta secures Les Bleus’ place in the semi-finals on home soil

France and Argentina players and staff clashed on the pitch at full-time as the hosts edged a bad-tempered match 1-0 in Bordeaux to reach the semi-finals of the men’s Olympics football tournament on Friday night.

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Tempers flared after the final whistle as substitutes and coaching staff all spilled on to the pitch amid ugly confrontations.

Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta's fifth-minute header settled the contest to set up a last-four meeting with Egypt, while France's Enzo Millot was shown a red card after the final whistle and a late goal from Michael Olise was ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) following a lengthy review due to a foul in the build-up by Maghnes Akliouche.

The scenes come after players from Argentina’s senior squad were filmed singing a derogatory chant about the origins of France's black players in the wake of their Copa America triumph in the USA last month.

And tensions were running high from the start in Bordeaux on Friday night, with the home fans loudly booing Argentina's national anthem before kick-off.

Spain and Morocco will meet in the other men’s Olympic football semi-final on Monday after wins over Japan and the United States respectively.

The men’s gold-medal match takes place next Friday night (August 9) at the Parc des Princes in Paris - home of reigning Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.