Paris Olympics Marred by Scandal and Chaos on Opening Day

The Paris Olympics' opening day was overshadowed by chaos in the men's soccer match and a spying scandal in the women's tournament. Argentina's game against Morocco ended controversially, while New Zealand accused Canada of spying. Security operations have been ramped up for the official opening ceremonies.

Chaos erupted during Argentina's opening men's soccer match and a spying scandal engulfed the women's soccer tournament on a tumultuous first day at the Paris Olympics. The men's game against Morocco ended controversially, with Argentina's coach Javier Mascherano branding it 'the biggest circus' of his life.

Drama ensued as Argentina's last-minute goal was ruled offside by VAR, followed by a pitch invasion that halted play for nearly two hours. 'What happened on the pitch was a scandal,' Mascherano told reporters.

Meanwhile, women's soccer faced controversy after New Zealand accused Canada of flying a drone over a training session, prompting FIFA to launch disciplinary proceedings and leading Canadian coach Bev Priestman to step down temporarily.

Security measures are at an all-time high for the official Opening Ceremony, with an estimated 45,000 police officers and thousands of soldiers and private security personnel deployed across Paris. An unprecedented parade along the Seine will see several thousand athletes participating under stringent security provisions.

(With inputs from agencies.)