1 of 7
|
Local health authorities interrupt the match while arguing with players from Argentina and Brazil during a match between Brazil and Argentina as part of the South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022 at Arena Corinthians on September 5, 2021 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
(Photo by Alexandre Schneider / Getty Images)
2 of 7
| Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. speak with health authorities as the match part of the South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022 is delayed at Arena Corinthians on September 5, 2021 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Alexandre Schneider / Getty Images)
3 of 7
|
An employee of Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) argues with Nicolás Otamendi (left) and Marcos Acuña during the South American qualifying soccer match for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup between Brazil and Argentina at the Corinthians Arena , in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 5, 2021. The World Cup qualifying match between Brazil and Argentina was halted on Sunday shortly after kick-off when controversy broke out over covid-19 protocols.
(Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP via Getty Images)
4 of 7
|
Brazilian players speak while the match is delayed by health authorities during a match between Brazil and Argentina.
(Photo by Alexandre Schneider / Getty Images)
5 of 7
|
Lionel Messi and Neymar are seen after employees of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) entered the field during the South American qualifying soccer match for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar between Brazil and Argentina.
(Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP via Getty Images)
6 of 7
|
Lionel Messi took off his shirt after all the controversy.
The match was suspended, Conmebol reported.
(Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP via Getty Images)
7 of 7
|
The coach of Brazil, Tite, after employees of the National Sanitary Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) entered the field during the match between Argentina vs.
Brazil.
(Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP via Getty Images)
(CNN) -
The South American qualifying match for the Qatar 2022 World Cup between Brazil and Argentina was suspended this Sunday minutes after its start, this after Brazilian health officials entered the field and escorted several Argentine footballers.
On Twitter, the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) reported that the measure had been given "by the referee's decision."
By decision of the match referee, the match organized by FIFA between Brazil and Argentina for the World Cup Qualifiers is suspended.
- CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) September 5, 2021
In another tweet, Conmebol 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."
advertising
For its part, FIFA confirmed on its Twitter account the suspension of the match and that more details would be given later.
"FIFA can confirm that, following a decision by the match referee, the qualifying match for the 2022 FIFA World Cup between Brazil and Argentina has been suspended. Further details will be released in due course," he said in the tweet. .
FIFA can confirm that following a decision by the match officials, the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying match Brazil vs.
Argentina has been suspended.
Further details will follow in due course.
- FIFA Media (@fifamedia) September 5, 2021
Four Argentine players accused of covid-19 protocols
The Brazilian Agency for Sanitary Regulation (Anvisa) requested the support of the country's Federal Police to prevent four Argentine players from participating in the World Cup qualifying match between Argentina and Brazil.
Health authorities entered the field during the first minutes of the match and suspended the match after Anvisa said that the four players made false statements upon arrival in Brazil, omitting that they had been in the United Kingdom in the last 14 days.
According to the Brazilian regulations against covid-19, any passenger who has visited the United Kingdom 14 days before arrival cannot enter the country.
"Anvisa considers that it is a situation of serious health risk, so it advises the local authorities to determine the immediate quarantine of the players, who are prohibited from participating in any activity and must be prevented from remaining in Brazilian territory ".
According to CNN Brasil, a CNN affiliate, Anvisa requested the deportation of the following players: Emiliano Martínez, Emiliano Buendía, Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero.
Credit: Alexandre Schneider / Getty Images
This says the AFA
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) told CNN Brazil: "We have nothing to say. Everything is in order according to the regulations of Conmebol (the governing body of South American football). Issue concluded."
The president of the AFA, Claudio Tapia, issued a statement in which he states: "What happened today is unfortunate for football, it is a very bad image. Four people entered to interrupt the game to make a notification and Conmebol requested the players who went to the locker room. You can't talk about any lie here because there is health legislation under which all South American tournaments are played. The health authorities of each country approved a protocol that we have been fully complying with. "
The Argentine national team coach, Lionel Scaloni, said that the events that occurred make him "very sad" and that both teams wanted to play the game.
"I come so that our country finds out what has happened," Scaloni said in a statement.
"I'm not looking for anyone to blame. If something happened or did not happen, it was not the time to make that intervention. It should have been a party for everyone, to enjoy the best players in the world. I would like the people of Argentina to understand that how technical director I have to defend my players. At no time were we notified that they could not play the game. We wanted to play the game, the Brazilian footballers too. "
With information from Marcelo Medeiros, from CNN *
Argentina Brazil