In the Quarterfinals of the Paris 2024 Olympics, host nation France knocked out Argentina in a highly intense and emotional match. However, what transpired after the final whistle left a trail of controversy and tension.

The clash between these two football powerhouses ended with confrontations following the match. The Argentine players didn't take the loss lightly, accusing their French opponents of provoking them by celebrating in front of the stands where their families were seated.

Veteran players like Nicolás Otamendi and Gerónimo Rulli openly expressed their dissatisfaction with the behavior of Thierry Henry's team.

"Players can celebrate, but not where the families are. There’s one guy, I don’t even know his name, Balde, Bade, whatever (referring to Loic Badé). If he wants to celebrate, he should come over to where we are, and we'll sort it out. It really pisses me off. It’s not right to celebrate in their faces," said a visibly upset Otamendi, who plays for Benfica.

Otamendi also stressed the importance of defending the Argentine jersey with respect and dignity. "I told the boys, this is how you defend the Argentine jersey. It really bothers me that they went to where the families were to celebrate in their faces."

The anger wasn't limited to Otamendi. Argentine goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli also voiced his indignation in the mixed zone. "Sometimes there are players who don't know how to win, and this is what happens. I think it’s completely avoidable. It’s not a nice image for anyone. As Argentines, we know that when we win, we celebrate with our people, and when we lose, we congratulate the opponent and head back in. I think they had something bottled up for a long time, and today they let it out," Rulli remarked, clearly referencing the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.

Referee Tantashev tried to control the situation by sending off Enzo Millot, identified as one of the main instigators of the post-match chaos. However, this measure didn't manage to calm things down, and the tension spilled over into the locker rooms.