Olympic officials make George Mills decision after runners square up to each other at end of controversial race

Officials at the 2024 Paris Olympics have made a decision following controversial scenes at the end of the heat races for the men's 5,000 metres.

Taking place this morning (7 August) inside Paris' iconic Stade de France, the heats for the men's 5,000m have pitted dozens of runners against each other for a place in Saturday's final.

But the first heat turned ugly after an incident on the final straight of the 14 minute race, with numerous athletes falling to the track in dramatic fashion.

Among them was Team GB's George Mills, who has had his eyes on an medal after winning silver in the same race at the 2024 European Championships in Rome.

Four runners were impacted, with three others - Dominic Lobalu, Thierry Ndikumwenayo, and Mike Foppen - also ending up on the floor alongside Mills.

Ndikumwenayo did not finish the race, with Foppen and Mills crossing the line in the last two places.

After the finish, Mills squared up to French runner Hugo Hay, pushing him in the chest in a fiery exchange. Other athletes came over to try and calm down the confrontation, which was done in front of the world's cameras.

Footage from the incident appears to show Hay and Mills tussling as the runners went on to the final straight.

Mills can then be seen falling alongside three others while runners fought for track position.

Hay finished seventh and qualified for the final, with Mills furious in a post-run interview.

When asked by media after the run what he said to Hay, Mills said: "I'm probably not allowed to say. I haven't seen anyone but there'll be an appeal, I hope.

"It was a perfect qualifier for me. I was thinking nobody in this field can keep up with me and then bang hit the deck. But what can you do?"

Following the race, it has been confirmed that Mills has been advanced to Saturday's final.

Lobalu and Foppen have also been put in the race.

A statement from British Athletics on X says: "Following this morning's 5000m heat, George Mills has been advanced to Saturday's final."

🇬🇧 George Mills was NOT happy with one of his fellow 5000m competitors 😡#Olympics #Paris2024 #BBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/OQ7tODFkpK

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 7, 2024

Hay was not disqualified. Speaking after the race, he said: "I just hope that I didn't do anything and I will not be disqualified. For me, that was nothing.

"Like I said to George, I will watch the images and if I'm the guy that did it, I will apologise. For me, I didn't do anything. I just hope that I can go in the final."

The men's 5,000 metre final takes place in the Stade de France on Saturday evening (10 August).