The World Cup qualifier clash between the two South American giants was suspended last night. Moments before kick-off Brazilian Health Authorities stormed on the field to take out the following players due to a breach in COVID-19 protocol – Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotspur, Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia of Aston Villa. Buendia was not included in the Argentina squad.
Bizarre scenes in Sâo Paulo as #BRAARG is officially suspended.
Local Brazilian health officials stopped the game over the participation of Argentina's four x UK based players.https://t.co/g7jn4jMzgP pic.twitter.com/5sfkNvZIOJ— AS USA (@English_AS) September 5, 2021
“The referee and the match official will take a report to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and they will decide what steps to take,” said a statement issued by CONMEBOL as reported by ESPN.
Under COVID-19 rules and regulations in Brazil, people flying in from the U.K. must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival only if, they have been in the U.K. 14 days before the travel to Brazil. Further on there was no warning or action taken for the four Argentine players playing in the Premier League and were allowed to travel with the team to the stadium from the hotel as well. Anger and confusion came in from South America over the rules that had previously disallowed many teams from using their key players for the Worl Cup qualifiers this month.
The Brazilian team were without nine of their key players for the clash against Argentina. Other South American sides have not had the participation of their players due to decisions by a few European clubs to not let the players travel to the South American continent.