Sao Paulo (AFP)
The reunion between Messi and Neymar with their selections came to an end, with the interruption of the Brazil-Argentina shock, Sunday, in Sao Paulo, on the intervention of the Brazilian health authorities, four Argentine players playing in England being accused of violating anticovid protocols.
The kickoff had been given barely five minutes when the surreal scene occurred: representatives of the Anvisa health agency and the federal police entered the field to end the meeting, in the confusion the most total.
The Argentines tried to parley, but eventually returned to the locker room.
The Brazilians remained on the pitch, playing and training with each other for more than an hour after the interruption, before finally leaving the pitch.
"By decision of the referee, the match between Brazil and Argentina has been suspended. The referee has made a report to the disciplinary committee of Fifa, which will decide what will be the next steps to be followed", published the South American Confederation (Conmebol) on Twitter.
"At no time were we informed that (the four players) could not play the match. We wanted to play, and the Brazilians too," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said on the Argentine federation's Twitter account. .
"Everyone was taken aback. It's a lamentable episode, a Brazil-Argentina match is at the heart of the attention around the world," lamented for his part the interim president of the Brazilian Confederation, Ednaldo. Rodrigues.
Brazilian players gathered on the lawn after the interruption of the match against Argentina due to the violation of the anticovid protocol, September 5, 2021 in Sao Paulo NELSON ALMEIDA AFP
"Before the game started, the supervisor told us that (the four Argentineans in the Premier League) could play, but everything has changed, for reasons we do not know," he added.
- "fake news" -
A few hours before the kick-off, Anvisa had yet announced in a statement that it had recommended to the local authorities of the State of Sao Paulo that the four footballers be "immediately placed in quarantine" for having provided "false information" in the entry form to Brazil.
According to the health agency, Giovanni Lo Celso (Tottenham), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa) and Cristian Romero (Tottenham) have failed to report that they had stayed in the United Kingdom for the last fourteen days preceding their arrival.
A ministerial order dated June 23 prohibits entry into Brazilian territory to any foreign person from the United Kingdom, India or South Africa, to prevent the spread of variants of Covid-19.
Argentinian players leave the pitch after the irruptin of health security agents in the match against Brazil in Sao Paulo, September 5, 2021 NELSON ALMEIDA AFP
Brazil is the second country in the world most bereaved by Covid-19, with more than 580,000 dead.
The Anvisa press release reported a "serious health risk", prohibiting players from "taking part in any activity and remaining on Brazilian territory".
- No duel Messi x Neymar -
Despite this decision, Lo Celso, Martinez and Romero had been lined up in the starting 11 of the Albiceleste and had started the game.
"We arrived at this situation because everything that Anvisa had recommended, from the beginning, was not respected. (The players) had been instructed to remain isolated pending their expulsion (from the country ), but they went to the stadium and entered the field, ”the director of the health agency, Antonio Barra Torres, told TV Globo.
Brazil star Neymar Jr and Argentina share confidences before their match in Sao Paulo kicks off on September 5, 2021 NELSON ALMEIDA AFP
Unlike the nine Brazilians in the Premier League summoned by coach Tite, the four Argentines made the trip despite the veto of English clubs, who banned their South American players from participating in these international matches to avoid a quarantine on their return.
The wait was huge for this shock, the revenge of the Copa América final, which saw Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi win his first selection title on July 10 at the Maracana.
This meeting was to oppose Messi and Neymar, teammates at Paris SG since this summer after playing together for four years at FC Barcelona (2013-2017).
This is the duel at the top of these South American qualifications, the Brazilians prancing in the lead with 21 points and seven wins in seven matches, followed by the Albiceleste (15 points).
© 2021 AFP