Brazil v Argentina abandoned due to Government intervention!

The 2022 World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina has been abandoned by the Brazilian Government after six minutes on the clock in Sao Paulo. The officials came on the pitch and ordered the game to be stopped. 

The Brazilian officials did not want Emi Martinez, Giovanni Lo Celso, Cristian Romero and Emi Buendia to play and they are trying to deport them back to Argentina after the footballers ignored the warnings.

CONMEBOL had warned Brazil prior to the game that if the ANVISA (Brazilian health authority) decided to not let the four Argentinian players who had been in the UK play, then Argentina would get the points. The UK is one of the countries on Brazil's red list.

ANVISA claim that the four Argentinian players lied on their passenger locator form that they had not been in the UK in the last 14 days, something very difficult to hide given they are Premier League players, and that is their justification for stopping the game. 

However, given CONMEBOL's threat, it remains to be seen what happens to Brazil. In UEFA matches, when a team has not been able to travel to another country due to COVID-19 restrictions, the match has been moved, but that did not happen on this occasion. Why it was left until so late for the Brazilian authorities is also something that will surely be questioned.

CONMEBOL confirmed that the match has been abandoned after a decision "made by the referee." "The match between Brazil and Argentina has been suspended. The referee and match commissioner will send a report to the FIFA disciplinary commission, who will decide the next steps to be taken. This process is in line with current rules," the Confederation say. 

They also say that any decision will be taken by FIFA as it is a FIFA competition. FIFA and CONMEBOL are reportedly on Argentina's side and the Argentinians could well be given the points. It remains to be seen what happens to Brazil as well. 

Brazil are top with 21 points from seven games while Argentina are 2nd in 15 points.

 

September 5, 2021