Brazil vs Argentina gets suspended
Brazil vs Argentina: The match got suspended after Brazilian health authorities invaded the pitch, as they wanted to deport four Argentine players. The match was already heading into the fifth minute when the invasion happened.
The players in question are Emiliano Martinez, Giovanni Lo Celso, Cristian Romero, and Emiliano Buendia. All four players play in the English Premier League. The Brazilian authorities claim that these players broke the quarantine procedure. Allegedly, there was a problem with the paperwork regarding the four players.
Brazil’s current quarantine rules state that any travelers from the United Kingdom should be on a mandatory 14-day quarantine. However, the aforementioned four players from Premier League did not undergo the quarantine procedure.
Previously, the Premier League clubs did not want their players to go outside of Europe on International duty, as the players have to be on a ten days quarantine upon returning.
Brazil had lost at least nine of their preferred players, as the premier league club did not release their players for international duties.
Brazil’s health authority’s statement
“It was necessary to keep our sanitary protocol,”
said Antonio Barra Torres, the head of the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (via Rede Globo).
“We called the federal police, that went to the hotel and we found out that they had already left for the Stadium. The rest is what you’re watching live.”
he added.
After a while, Argentine captain, Lionel Messi led his team back down the tunnel to the dressing room. The referees called off the match, and there is no further news on the rescheduling of the fixture. Meanwhile, late in the day, the Argentine players boarded their plane home.
CONMEBOL’s statement on the issue
Meanwhile, this is what CONMEBOL had to say on the result of the match.
“The World Cup Qualifiers is a FIFA competition,”
wrote the South American football governing body in a statement.
“All decisions concerning its organization and development are the exclusive power of that institution. The referee and the match commissioner will submit a report to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which will determine the steps to be followed. These procedures strictly adhere to current regulations.”
added, the South American football body in its statement.
Brazil and Argentina lead the South American qualification campaign in first and second place respectively. Meanwhile, Ecuador squandered their chance to move to the second spot after their draw against Chile. The match ended 0-0, following a second-half red card for Ecuador.
