Sao Paulo (AFP)

Total confusion in Sao Paulo: the shock of qualifying for the World Cup-2022 between Brazil and Argentina was interrupted after only five minutes of play, four Argentinian players being accused of violating anticovid protocols.

The scene was surreal: the kickoff was given, with the stars Messi and Neymar, but five minutes later, representatives of the Anvisa health agency entered the field to order its interruption, facing players dumbfounded .

The Argentines tried to parley, but eventually returned to the locker room.

The Brazilians still remained on the pitch, playing and training among themselves, an hour after kick-off, not knowing whether the match will resume or be postponed to a later date.

"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.

- "fake news" -

A few hours before the kick-off, Anvisa 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.

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

Ministerial ordinance dated June 23 bans Entrésao Paulo

e on Brazilian territory to any foreign person coming from the United Kingdom, India or South Africa, to prevent the spread of variants of Covid-19.

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".

- Duel Messi-Neymar aborted -

Despite this decision, Lo Celso, Martinez and Romero had been lined up in the starting 11 of the Albiceleste and had started the game.

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