Brazil-Argentina FIFA World Cup Qualifier Suspended In Coronavirus Dispute

A World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina was suspended amid chaotic scenes after local health officials walked onto the pitch on Sunday in a bid to remove three players who didn바카라�t comply with coronavirus restrictions. (More Football News)

The match featuring Argentina바카라�s Lionel Messi and Brazil바카라�s Neymar was stopped in the 7th minute because of the extraordinary interruption. The referee eventually suspended the game with the score at 0-0 after players, coaches, football officials and local authorities argued for several minutes on the field at NeoQuimica Arena.

Brazil바카라�s health agency said three of Argentina바카라�s England-based players should have been in quarantine instead of playing in the match. FIFA will have to determine what happens next with the qualifier.

Antonio Barra Torres, the president of Brazil바카라�s health agency, Anvisa, said four Argentina players would be fined and deported for breaching Brazil바카라�s COVID-19 protocols.

The four had been ordered to quarantine by Brazil바카라�s health agency ahead of the match. Despite that order, three of the four started for Argentina.
Aston Villa바카라�s Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia and Tottenham바카라�s Giovanni Lo Celso and Cristian Romero joined the Argentina squad despite the Premier League not wanting players to be released for international duty because of the need to quarantine for 10 days in a hotel on their return. Brazil바카라�s quarantine restrictions have added another complicating factor.

The Argentina football federation on Sunday night tweeted the message 바카라�We are going home!바카라� along with a picture of the squad, including Emiliano Martinez and Buendia, boarding a flight for Buenos Aires.

TV Globo reported that the four England-based players told Brazilian police at the airport they did not fill their entry forms upon arrival. The report said the footballers were not deported and received permission to fly back with their team.

Brazil바카라�s health agency said all four allegedly told immigration officers that in the previous 14 days they hadn바카라�t been to Britain or anywhere else that Brazil puts on its own red list for COVID-19 risks. Those who have been in countries on the so-called red list face a 14-day quarantine in Brazil.

Martinez, Romero and Lo Celso started the match.

Anvisa there바카라�d been a meeting Saturday involving regional and national football representatives to discuss the quarantine situation.

바카라�At that meeting, Anvisa and local health authorities determined the players should quarantine,바카라� Anvisa said. 바카라�However, even after the meeting and the report to authorities, the players took part of Saturday evening바카라�s training session.바카라�

The agency added that attempts earlier Sunday to remove the players and take them to the airport were frustrated.

바카라�The decision to interrupt the match was never within Anvisa바카라�s reach. However, fielding players who did not comply with Brazilian laws and health norms, and also offered false information to authorities did require the agency to act, at its time and its way,바카라� the Brazilian agency said.

Brazilian TV showed several exchanges between players and coaches during the chaos. Brazil coach Tite seemed to be the most upset.

바카라�They had 72 hours before the match. They had to do it at the time of the match!바카라� Tite shouted to the Anvisa agents.

Lionel Messi also sounded irritated. 바카라�They did not talk to us before this,바카라� the Argentine captain repeated.

Brazil called up nine Premier League players for the World Cup qualifiers in September but none of them traveled to South America because of the restrictions.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said both teams would have liked to play the game.

바카라�A match between some of the best in the world ends like this. I would like people in Argentina to understand that as a coach I have to take care of my players. If people come and say they have to deport them, I will not allow,바카라� Scaloni told channel TyC Sports. 바카라�We wanted to play the match, so did the Brazilians.바카라�

Both national soccer associations issued statements to criticize the move by Brazil바카라�s health agency. Brazil players stayed on the field after Argentina left, and started doing training exercises. Argentinians, including those considered to be a COVID-19 risk, stayed for more than three hours in their dressing room until they left for the airport.