The French team secured a 1-0 victory over the two-time gold medalists, thanks to a goal from Jean-Philippe Mateta, but the game’s conclusion saw tensions reach a boiling point. After the final whistle, players and staff from both teams clashed on the pitch.

The French coaching staff and players rushed onto the field to celebrate their advancement to the Olympic semi-finals on home soil, while Argentina’s coaches and substitutes also entered the playing area. The situation quickly escalated as Argentine players confronted a French player, sparking the brawl.

As the altercation intensified, more players joined in, attempting to either escalate or defuse the situation. The exact trigger for the brawl remains unclear. However, some speculate that French midfielder Enzo Millot’s enthusiastic celebration may have provoked an angry response from the Argentine players.

This altercation comes on the heels of a recent racism controversy involving Argentine midfielder Fernandez, who was embroiled in a scandal for participating in racist chants during the Copa America celebrations. The incident drew widespread condemnation, and Fernandez issued public and private apologies to his Chelsea teammates to express his remorse.

Wesley Fofana, a French player at Chelsea who had earlier labelled the incident as “uninhibited racism” on social media, revealed that he and Fernandez have reconciled following a face-to-face chat. Fofana explained that Fernandez was unaware of the offensive nature of the chants and did not intend to harm anyone.

The recent brawl and the preceding racism controversy highlight that tensions remain between the two nations, and things could flare up in the future when these two footballing giants meet again. For now, the focus will likely shift back to France’s performances in the Olympics as they are set to face Egypt in the last four on August 5.