Perhaps the most hotly contested rivalry in international soccer was supposed to have its latest chapter on Sunday in a World Cup Qualifier between Argentina and Brazil in São Paolo. After 10 minutes of action, however, the game was abruptly suspended as Brazilian authorities stormed onto the pitch to detain and deport four members of Argentina’s side who play their club football in England.
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
According to multiple reports, the authorities came out to accost Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero, Giovani Lo Celso, and Emiliano Buendía. The quartet are all based out of England, and because they went from their club teams to their national team for these qualifiers, the players were not able to quarantine for 14 days before entering Brazil, putting them in violation of the country’s COVID-19 rules.
Per The Athletic, the official accusation against the players is “providing false information on immigration forms and breaking COVID-19 laws.”
Surreal scenes in the Brazil vs Argentina match…
Our reporter @patilopesx provides an update.#WCQ #BRAARG
pic.twitter.com/q4QakCRotw
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) September 5, 2021
ICYMI. Brazil v Argentina is wild. Game stopped after 10 mins bc a bunch of health officials and cops came on to pitch and, according to commentator, are detaining the 4 PL based Argentina players (Martinez, Buendia, Romero and Lo Celso) for not quarantining.
— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) September 5, 2021
Anvisa, an organ of Brazil’s Health Ministry, has ordered the immediate detainment and deportation of Lo Celso, Buendia and Emi Martínez from Brazil.
According to a press release, the trio lied about having been in England within the last 14 days upon entering Brazil.
— EiF (@EiFSoccer) September 5, 2021
Surreal scenes in the Brazil v Argentina game. Never seen something like this before.
ANVISA personnel and Brazilian Federal Police have walked on to the pitch and stopped the match to detain the 4 Argentinian players who lied to enter the country.
This is incredible.
— EiF (@EiFSoccer) September 5, 2021
Amid all the chaos, Argentina star Lionel Messi asked the question that is on everyone’s mind: Why, exactly, did they wait until after the game started to do this instead of addressing it during the three days in the lead-up to the game that the Argentinian national team was in Brazil?
“We’ve been in Brazil three days. Why wait until the game starts to come and find us?” says Messi to Brazilian health authorities according to @Continental590
— Nico Cantor (@Nicocantor1) September 5, 2021
Ultimately, the game was suspended, with Messi making a pretty straightforward declaration about the entire situation.
It’s official from CONMEBOL.
Game has been officially called off.
Messi heard saying on live television saying “esto es un papelón.”
In the words of Messi: this is a disaster.
— EiF (@EiFSoccer) September 5, 2021
El encuentro entre #Brasil y @Argentina quedó suspendido.
— Selección Argentina
There is no word yet as to when the game will resume. Both sides should qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar pretty comfortably, but emotions always run ultra high when they face off. Adding the potential detainment and deportation of players, though, is a new level for this rivalry.