Bizarre Covid halt to Brazil versus Argentina qualifier
Brazil’s World Cup qualifying clash against Argentina was abandoned shortly after kick-off on Sunday as controversy over Covid-19 protocols erupted. Amid incredible scenes at Sao Paulo’s Neo Quimica Arena, the match was halted when Brazilian health officials ran onto the pitch, triggering a melee involving team officials and players from both sides.
The stunning intervention came just hours after health authorities in Brazil said four England-based players in Argentina’s squad should be placed in “immediate quarantine” for breaching Covid-19 protocols. The sides were just seven minutes into the match, which was played in front of only 1,500 spectators because of Covid restrictions. According to Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), the Premier League players—giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero of Tottenham, and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia—provided “false information” upon their entry to Brazil. Romero, Lo Celso and Martinez were all in Argentina’s starting line-up for Sunday’s game— prompting the surreal intervention of ANVISA officials. The four players were accused of failing to disclose that they had spent time in the United Kingdom in the 14 days before they
SAO PAULO:
LIONEL MESSI,
captain
Argentina
arrived in Brazil, where Covid-19 has claimed more than 580,000 lives.
The controversy comes after nine Brazilians based in the Premier League failed to travel to South America following objections from their clubs. Argentina captain Lionel Messi and his teammates trooped off the field as confusion reigned over the fate of the game. Soon, Brazil’s squad began a practice game on the pitch. Messi later hit out at the intervention by Brazilian officials. “We’ve been here for three days, why are you doing this just now?” he said on Argentina’s TYC network. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was similarly incensed, telling media that “at no time were we told that they could not play the game.”
Brazilian officials were unrepentant about the decision to halt the game however. “We got to this point because everything that ANVISA directed, from the first moment, was not fulfilled,” ANVISA director Antonio Barra Torres said on Brazilian television. 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.
CONMEBOL said in a statement that the game had been “suspended” but did not say when or if the match would be replayed, or whether either team would forfeit the game.
We’ve been here for three days, why are you doing this just now?
Close shave
In other qualifiers, Mostafa Mohamed scored an 89th minute equaliser to snatch a point for a 10-man Egypt as they drew 1-1 away in Gabon in Franceville.
But it was overshadowed by a dramatic flight from Guinea by Morocco’s national team, who had been caught up in an uprising by soldiers in Conakry. Morocco were due to play Guinea on Monday, which has since been postponed after shooting broke out in the city as rebel soldiers claimed to have overthrown the government of President Alpha Conde. Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic said they had been stranded in their hotel after hearing shooting in the morning and seeing soldiers running around near their hotel. But as dusk fell, the team received permission to leave and were spirited home on a Moroccan plane waiting for them at the airport, despite soldiers saying they had closed the country’s borders.