MARSEILLE, France (AP) — In a surprising turn of events during the Olympics men's soccer semifinal match between Morocco and Spain on Monday, the first substitution was not a player but the referee himself.
The incident occurred just 15 minutes into the game when referee Ilgiz Tantashev of Uzbekistan was inadvertently knocked down near midfield. Spain defender Marc Pubill, who seemed to have been pushed by a Moroccan player, collided with Tantashev's right leg, causing the referee to limp off the field.
Following the collision, play was halted for a few minutes to allow Tantashev to receive medical attention. Unfortunately, it became apparent that the referee was unable to continue officiating the match due to the injury sustained.
As a result, fourth official Glenn Nyberg of Sweden stepped in to take over refereeing duties for the remainder of the game, replacing Tantashev in an unexpected substitution that caught many by surprise.
This unusual turn of events added an unexpected twist to an already intense semifinal match between Morocco and Spain, showcasing the unpredictable nature of sports and the need for quick adaptations in such situations.
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