Antonio Barra Torres, director of Anvisa, and why he interrupted Brazil-Argentina: 'They received the order to isolate themselves to be deported'

09/05/2021 19:13

• Clarín.com

• sports

Updated 09/05/2021 19:13

The director of the National Health Surveillance Agency, Antonio Barra Torres, assured this Sunday that the decision to enter the Neo Química Arena court and suspend the match between Brazil and Argentina, for the Qualifiers for the Qatar World Cup, responded to " sanitary infraction committed by four Argentine soccer players ".

They are Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero, Giovani Lo Celso and Emiliano Buendía who had been warned hours before, according to the official, not to leave the Marriot hotel in San Pablo while waiting to be deported after having omitted in the sworn statement when arriving in Brazil that days before they had been in the United Kingdom.

"The four Argentine players received orders to remain isolated to be deported. But it was not respected. They went to the stadium, entered the field, the sequence is one of disobedience," said Barra Torres in dialogue with ESPN.

And he insisted: "The four players will be fined and sanctioned for the sequence of sanitary infractions. They did not comply with the Brazilian sanitary regulations."

Despite Anvisa's demand, Conmebol had given the green light for the four players to be part of the National Team in the qualifying match for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

The Brazilian agency claimed that they violated the rules by falsifying the sworn statement in Migrations by omitting that in the last 14 days they were in England.

However, the AFA, with the backing of the entity chaired by Alejandro Domínguez, stood firm and the players could play the game.

The agency had given notice to the Federal Police of Brazil to make a determination and achieve that the four footballers who play in the Premier League were separated.

"The players in question declared that they had not passed through any of the 4 restricted countries in the last 14 days. The travelers arrived in Brazil on a flight from Caracas / Venezuela to Guarulhos. However, unofficial news has reached Anvisa who report alleged false statements provided by said travelers, "said the Anvisa statement, targeting the four members of the squad who are active in the Premier.

Therefore, the four players got on the bus and three of them started the game.

Chiqui Tapia and company threatened to claim the points because Brazil did not comply with the agreements signed beforehand at the government level for a health bubble to take effect.

That was how the game began.

But at five minutes and 20 seconds there was an invasion of the playing field by a group of Anvisa officials who tried to take Martínez, Romero and Lo Celso, who had started as starters in San Pablo.

After an extensive discussion, the Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela determined the suspension of the match.

"By decision of the match referee, the match organized by FIFA between Brazil and Argentina for the World Cup Qualifiers is suspended," announced Conmebol.

He added: "The referee and the match commissioner will submit a report to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which will determine the steps to follow. These procedures strictly adhere to current regulations. The World Cup Qualifiers is a competition All decisions concerning its organization and development are the exclusive power of that institution ".

Minutes later, FIFA endorsed what Conmebol said.

"FIFA can confirm that, following a decision by the referees, the qualifying match for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Brazil vs. Argentina has been suspended. Further details will be released in due course," he clarified.

It will be Gianni Infantino and company, through the Disciplinary Unit, which will determine what will happen to the game.

Why could they give the 3 points to the albiceleste team?

As Clarín was able to find out, the referee's report includes a description of what happened, which was visible to all, and it is stated that it was a "suspension due to force majeure due to invasion by unauthorized persons."

Look also

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“Fútbol interruptus” in Brazil-Argentina: the papery act of closing a circus performance