The highly anticipated, world-stopping World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina in São Paulo ended in farce on Sunday afternoon. The buildup to the match had been dominated by COVID-19 guidelines, which ruled out the Premier League-based players for both countries.
Brazil abided by its own nation’s health guidelines — which rule that anyone arriving in Brazil from Britain must spend 14 days in quarantine — and named a starting lineup without the likes of Alisson, Thiago Silva and Gabriel Jesus.
Argentina, however, said to hell with that (which is basically what Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro has said to every measure counteracting the pandemic) and fielded a starting XI that included Aston Villa’s Emi Martínez and the Tottenham duo of Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero.
Part of the absurdity is that Argentina flew to Brazil directly after last Thursday’s WCQ win over Venezuela, and that’s when Brazilian health and travel authorities said that Argentina’s Premier League players would be deported. It was initially reported that Argentina’s England-based contingent had lied about being in England within the last two weeks upon entering Brazil, but the Argentine Football Association (AFA) says that’s a lie.
Regardless, nothing happened for days, and then we actually had the anthems, kick-off and a couple of trademark Superclásico de las Américas tackles at Arena Corinthians. However, with about six minutes on the clock, the Brazilian authorities actually showed up and tried to actively deport the Argentines.
Video of World Cup qualifier being stopped in Brazil over English-based Argentina players’ quarantine status with health officials going on the pitch pic.twitter.com/vKFvcdIycG
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) September 5, 2021
The scenes from there descended into absurdity. Argentina retreated to its dressing room and locked the door, while Brazil stayed out on the pitch. After a while Lionel Messi emerged and spoke with Dani Alves in the tunnel. Argentina’s captain then took to the pitch, where he could be seen in animated discussions with Neymar, Brazil manager Tite and Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni.
The word from São Paulo is that both teams still wanted to play.
Lionel Scaloni: "At no time were we notified that they could not play the match. We wanted to play the match, the Brazilian players too."
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) September 5, 2021
Lionel Messi to the Brazilian health authorities: “We’ve been here for three days, why are you doing this just now?!”
— Roberto Rojas (@RobertoRojas97) September 5, 2021
The match has been officially suspended, but a final decision on the outcome has yet to be decided.
21. Brazil will hold an open training session at the stadium now in order to not waste their trip and to entertain the fans who are there.
— EiF (@EiFSoccer) September 5, 2021
WHAT A STRIKE!!!! #Brazil #CONMEBOL pic.twitter.com/cwJ11LJiFo
— fuboTV (@fuboTV) September 5, 2021
Update: The three points might be going to Argentina...
If the match does not continue, the three points would reportedly be awarded to Argentina and not Brazil.
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) September 5, 2021
Argentina will have all four Premier League players available for their match against Brazil. If the match is not played, Brazil would be deducted points because they would not be complying with what all CONMEBOL delegates agreed on. This per TNT Sports.
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) September 5, 2021
