France's football side say they used an offensive song about their heritage as motivation to beat rivals Argentina at the Paris Olympics in a nasty clash which ended in an on-field fracas.
Their quarter-final success - a 1-0 win in Bordeaux - was a rematch of the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, contest in high tension, following a racism scandal from Argentina's Copa America triumph last month.
Senior Argentinian players celebrated that tournament by singing an offensive song about the African heritage of France’s players.
A video of that celebration has fuelled acrimony across the sport, and particularly at clubs like Chelsea, which has both Argentinian and French players expected to play together.
The massive fallout has even prompted government-to-government talks on the sidelines of the Olympics.
“A great rivalry has been created between two great soccer nations," France captain Alexandre Lacazette said.
"We had in mind what was said (in the video) ... maybe it did give us a little bit of extra motivation for us - and for France.”
Argentinian teams and competitors have been barracked in other sports at the Paris Games, notably during a rugby sevens quarter-final meeting with the hosts, which France also won.
In Bordeaux, the chief provocateur was France midfielder Enzo Millot, who admitted that he goaded the Argentinians.
"I went to celebrate the victory in front of their bench, yes, it was to wind them up a bit," he said.
"We were thinking about it (the video), it spurred us on."
Striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who scored France’s goal with a powerful early header, concurred.
"You know the Argentines, they wanted to spoil the party. But you can’t spoil the party, they made it even better," he said.
Argentina’s players chased Millot around the field as the situation threatened to spiral out of control, before things calmed down after a couple of wild minutes.
“As soon as we saw who we were playing we were glad to be playing against them,” said Millot.
"It’s a good war between two nations."
FIFA is investigating the video, with Lacazette hoping for action.
“It’s a pity that such things are said in 2024 ... but we have faith in FIFA," he said.
France coach Thierry Henry was upset at the scenes, which he said "represent everything you don’t want to see".
Veteran Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi, the captain, said France players were disrespectful in their celebrations.
“I’m upset," he told broadcasters TyC.
“Players can celebrate however they want to, but not in front of where the fans are, the family members.”
The two nations have won the last two World Cups, Argentina edging France in the 2022 final in a penalty shootout after a pulsating 3-3 draw.
Four years ealier, the French triumphed in Russia with a 4-3 round-of-16 win on the way to the title.
Almost all of the World Cup winners are absent at the Olympics, a tournament for under-23 players with three over-age players.
