The FIFA World Cup Qualifier between Brazil and Argentina will be replayed, football’s governing body has confirmed. In September, the match was abandoned minutes after the kick-off after Brazil medical chiefs stormed onto the pitch.
The ball had barely been kicked around between the two sets of players when Brazil healthcare officials stormed onto the pitch, demanding an immediate halt to the WC qualifier between old rivals Brazil and Argentina. What transpired in Sao Paulo in early September raised a few eyebrows all over the world, but FIFA’s investigation and disciplinary proceedings have finally provided some clarity.
Firstly, the match has to be replayed – declared FIFA. However, with both teams already securing their berths at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, it won’t have any lasting implications. Furthermore, the teams have to pay a financial penalty. Brazil have been fined 550,000 Swiss Francs while Argentina have to pay 250,000. FIFA will set the date and the location of the replay in the future.
Also read 👉 Argentine players accused of breaking COVID protocols; WC qualifier against Brazil suspended
Interestingly, Argentina will be without four players for the rematch; the four Premier League-based stars, who were adjudged to have falsified information on their immigration forms ahead of the game in September. Giovani Lo Celso, Cristian Romero, Emiliano Martinez, and Emiliano Buendia have all been accused of the same and are suspended from participating in Argentina’s next two games.
The four accused of lying to the relevant authorities are believed to have done so by falsifying information about their last whereabouts. When asked about it ahead of entering Brazil, the Premier League quartet allegedly told Anvisa – Brazil’s health agency – that they hadn’t been to the United Kingdom, then on the nation’s Covid-19 Red List, recently.
2022 World Cup qualification: top 4
| # | Team | Matches played | Goal difference | Points |
| 1 | Brazil | 15 | +27 | 39 |
| 2 | Argentina | 15 | +16 | 35 |
| 3 | Ecuador | 16 | +10 | 25 |
| 4 | Uruguay | 16 | -3 | 22 |
The agency advised the players to quarantine, reportedly, before flagging up the issue to the federal police, leading to the events of September 5. All four will now miss the late-March international window, serving their suspension away from the Argentina national team, who will be playing Venezuela on March 24 and Chile on March 29.
