France and Argentina players argue at the end of a quarter final soccer match (Credits: AP)
France and Argentina players and staff clashed on the pitch at full-time as the hosts edged a bad-tempered 1-0 match in Bordeaux to reach the Olympic semi-finals.
Tempers flared after the final whistle as substitutes and coaching staff spilled onto the pitch amid ugly confrontations.
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.
The scenes come after Argentina players were filmed singing a derogatory chant about the origins of France’s black players in the wake of their Copa America triumph last month.
And tensions were running high from the start in Bordeaux, with the home fans loudly booing Argentina’s national anthem before kick-off.
The unsavoury scenes at the end of the game were condemned by France head coach, Thierry Henry, but Argentina stalwart Nicolas Otamendi lay the blame at the feet of France’s Loic Balde who he accused of antagonising the families of the Albiceleste players who were seated in the stands.
The former Manchester City defender said: ‘It makes me very angry. They can party, do whatever they want, but going to where the supporters and their families are is not the right way to do it.
Police forces stand guard in the tribunes at the end of the men’s quarter-final football match between France and Argentina (AFP)
‘There was a guy, I don’t even know his name? Balde, Bade? I don’t know what, if he wants to party, let him come straight to where we are and we’ll sort it out.
‘We’ll talk about everything we have to talk about. It makes me angry. It’s not good. The truth is, it makes me angry.
‘He celebrated the victory in front of our substitutes. I didn’t really understand what was happening, then I realised he was there.
Loic Bade of France celebrates with teammates after the match (Reuters)
‘It’s one thing to party on the field, with your team. But I don’t like that.’
Former Montpellier goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli also attacked the French players and said ‘Sometimes there are players who don’t know how to win and this is what happens.
‘It was completely avoidable, it’s not a good image for anyone. As Argentinians, we know that when we win, we celebrate with our people and when we lose, we congratulate our opponents and go home.
‘The truth is that some players don’t know how to do that. We had nothing to reproach ourselves for.’