VIDEO. France – Argentina quarter-final: a fight breaks out at the end of the match in the locker room, a Frenchman sent off

Les échauffourées ont commencé sur le terrain et se sont poursuivies dans les vestiaires. CAPTURE D'ECRAN – FRANCE TELEVISIONS

Juste après le coup de sifflet final du quart de finale du tournoi olympique de football, France-Argentine (1-0), une grosse échauffourée est venue gâcher la fête ce vendredi 2 août.

The France-Argentina rivalry is not about to run out of steam. Announced as a hot one, this quarter-final reeked of sulfur. The Argentinian anthem was booed, every initiative of the Albiceleste players was jeered, every muscular duel gave off an extreme tension.

Among the Bleuets, we could feel a spirit of revenge, as if boosted by the desire to avenge the greats of the 2022 World Cup final (3-3, defeat on penalties). Even if it meant being a bit picky with their opponents, sometimes to the limit (Loïc Badé, Jean-Philippe Mateta). To Argentina, finally…

"I'm not really happy"

But the tension finally exploded. At the final whistle, the French barely had time to raise their arms before the scuffles had begun. It is difficult to say who started it but the clashes were hardly surprising, as the atmosphere was electric. Otamendi, Lacazette, the staff, the substitutes, the non-group players… They all formed a walking heap.

The fight continued all the way to the locker rooms. And the referee of the match, despite the end of the match, decided to sanction Enzo Millot with a red card. The Stuttgart player is out of the semi-final against Egypt.

“It wasn't necessary. It doesn't spoil the sporting performance but we didn't want to lose players. I'm really not happy”, declared coach Thierry Henry.

Once the spirits had calmed down a little, the French players went to celebrate their victory with the supporters. The passage in front of the Argentinian kop was lively, of course. Latin American fans did not hesitate to wave “3” with their hands (for three World Cups). The rivalry continues in full swing.