Qatar world cup 2022

World Cup Qualifier Match between Brazil and Argentina abandoned after five minutes of kick off

The game was abandoned after Brazilian Health Officials objected the participation of three Argentine players since they believe they have violated quarantine rules.

Photo: via BBC

Visitors Argentina were forced to walk off the pitch after just five minutes of the play as the Brazilian Health Officials intervened in the match between Argentina and Brazil objecting to the participation of three players whom they believe broke the quarantine rule.

The dramatic intervention at the Corinthians Arena came hours after Brazil's health authorities had said four England-based players for Argentina had to quarantine.

Emiliano Buendia and Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa, as well as Giovani lo Celso and Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotspur, are the players with English Premier League teams. However, the authorities did not name them

Martinez, Lo Celso, and Romero all began the game which was a part of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at Sao Paulo.

Argentina's players have left to prepare for their next World Cup qualifier, which will be played at home against Bolivia on Friday, September 10. No date has been established for the rescheduled match.

FIFA has said that "gather evidence from all sides to fully understand the events that led to the match suspension before it decides on the most appropriate course of action".

CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, stated in a statement, "By decision of the match referee, the match organized by Fifa between Brazil and Argentina for the World Cup Qualifiers is suspended." The statement was released after around one hour later since the game was stopped and while Brazilian players organised an impromptu training session on the pitch.

"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."

Under Brazilian rules, visitors who have been in the UK for 14 days before entering the country must quarantine for 14 days on arrival.

"We got to this point because everything that ANVISA directed, from the first moment, was not fulfilled," Antonio Barra Torres, director at Brazil's health regulator Anvisa, said on Brazilian television, according to AFP.

"[The four players] were directed to remain isolated while awaiting deportation, but they did not comply. They went to the stadium and they entered the field, in a series of breaches," the official added.

Publish : 2021-09-06 11:55:00

Give Your Comments