The French men's soccer team has defeated Argentina 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the Olympics, making history and avoiding racial slurs in the process. The match was marked by tension and controversy, as Argentine players and staff clashed with French players and officials on the field and in the tunnel following the game.
The goal that won the match for France came from Jean-Philippe Mateta's fifth-minute header off a corner kick taken by Michael Olise. This was enough to send France to the semifinals, where they will face Egypt.
The match was significant because it marked the first time Argentina had played France since the latter's 2018 World Cup defeat in a penalty shootout. Argentine fans were upset before the match, with some chanting and booing France, and even displaying a banner with a racial slur.
International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has launched an investigation into the incident, with officials vowing to take firm action against any players or officials found to have engaged in discriminatory behavior.
The match was not without incident on the field, as Argentine players Giuliano Simeone and Julian Alvarez missed scoring chances, and the Argentine team ultimately crashed out of the tournament. This means that the Olympic men's soccer gold medal will not be won by a team from Latin America for the first time since Cameroon won the gold medal in 2000.