Argentina’s WC2022 qualifying game against Brazil played in Sao Paulo on Sunday had to be suspended minutes after kick-off after the Brazilian health officials came on to the pitch mid-match and escorted some Argentine players away.
According to reports, Brazil’s Federal Police had received a request from the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency to stop Aston Villa players Emiliano Martínez and Emiliano Buendía along with Tottenham’s Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero from taking part in the match.
As stated by the Agency, those players had given false statements on arriving in Brazil, hiding the fact that they had been in the United Kingdom, playing in the Premier League, in the last 14 days.
The Brazilian COVID-19 regulations state that anybody who visited the UK, India or South Africa 14 days before arrival will not and cannot be allowed to enter the country.
FIFA also announced on Twitter that the match had been suspended and further details will be revealed soon.
The visiting team left after the health officials stormed into the field and intervened in the match, but Argentina captain Lionel Messi, the coaches of both sides and the Brazilian players were seen standing on the sidelines to discuss and get clarity about the stoppage.
“Why did they start the game and stop it after five minutes?”
“We’ve been here at the stadium for an hour, they could have told us,”
Messi was heard saying on the broadcast.
Paris Saint-Germain striker went back to the dressing room after that, and the match was officially declared as suspended at 5 PM Local time, which is an hour after the play was stopped.
