Mayhem is Brazil nuts
Qualifier called off over Covid rules bust-up.. as officials storm pitch
ARGENTINA and Brazil were left in chaos last night as health officials invaded the pitch to call off their crunch World Cup qualifier just minutes after kick-off.
The dramatic gesture from the officials at the Corinthians Arena was instigated by claims that three players had broken quarantine rules.
Both teams went back to the dressing room but the two coaches, along with Lionel Messi and some Brazilian players, gathered at the side of the pitch a few moments later to discuss the stoppage.
It was not clear whether the game would continue but news soon spread that the clash had been abandoned.
The incident occurred just hours after Brazil’s health regulator Anvisa said four Argentine players must isolate and could not play in the match.
The three were among four Argentine players who play in Premier League.
Under Brazilian rules visitors who have been in the UK in the 14 days before entering the country must quarantine for 14 days on arrival.
Brazil’s health regulators were tipped off the four did not state that information on their immigration forms and on Sunday said they confirmed the details given were “false”.
The players believed to be at the centre of the allegations are Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia – and Spurs duo Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso.
Before the game a statement was released by Anvisa which said: “We consider the situation a serious health risk and so have asked local health authorities to determine the immediate quarantine of the players, who are stopped from participating in any activity and should be prevented from remaining on Brazilian soil.”
Nevertheless, no action was taken and the four players were allowed to travel with the Argentine team from the hotel to the Corinthians arena.
The players trained, stripped for action and made their way to the pitch only to see a flurry of panicked activity after just 10 minutes.
The confusion comes amid continuing anger in South America at rules which have robbed several teams of key players for this month’s three World Cup qualifiers.
Brazil are without nine key men for Argentina game, and other South American sides have also lost players due to a decision by some European clubs not to let their players travel to the continent as they would have to quarantine on return – and the clubs do not want to lose their players for subsequent league games.
Aston Villa said the two Emilianos had agreed to return to their club after the Brazil game and miss Argentina’s clash with Bolivia on Tuesday.
That goes against Argentina’s FA, who said they would play all three games.
Brazil currently lead the South American qualifying group for Qatar 2022, six points ahead of second-placed Argentina. The top four qualify automatically for Qatar.