Brazils clash with Argentina stopped after COVID-19 accusation

September 6, 2021 â€" 7.23am

Argentina’s World Cup qualifier against Brazil was interrupted after seven minutes, and eventually suspended, in a wild dispute over coronavirus concerns.

Just after the start of the clash between the South American rivals on Sunday (Monday AEST), Brazilian health officials came onto the pitch because they felt three Argentina players should not be playing. It was alleged that on their arrival in Brazil on Friday they did not disclose they had recently been in England.

Brazil and Argentina players talk as the game is interrupted by health authorities.Credit:AP

Argentina responded by walking off the field at Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo. Argentina tweeted that the game, which was 0-0 at the time, would not resume.

The president of Brazil’s health agency, Antonio Barra Torres, said four Argentina players will be fined and deported for allegedly not following the country’s COVID-19 protocols.

Four of Argentina’s players from the English Premier League had been ordered to quarantine by Brazil’s health agency before the match. Despite that order, three of them started for Argentina.

Aston Villa players Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia, and Tottenham duo Giovanni Lo Celso and Cristian Romero, came to play for Argentina despite the Premier League not wanting players to be released for international duty due to the need to quarantine for 10 days in a hotel on their return. Martinez, Romero and Lo Celso started the match. Buendia was not included in the squad.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said he and his players were saddened by the turn of events, and that both teams would have liked to play the game.

“A match between some of the best in the world ends like this. I would like people in Argentina to understand that as a coach I have to take care of my players. If people come and say they have to deport them, I will not allow,” Scaloni told channel TyC Sports.

“We wanted to play the match, so did the Brazilians.”

Italy equal unbeaten record

Meanwhile, in Europe’s World Cup qualifiers, Jorginho missed a penalty as Italy were held to a 0-0 draw by Switzerland, a result that meant Roberto Mancini’s side equalled the world record for international matches unbeaten in a row. Italy have not lost for 36 consecutive matches, matching Brazil’s record set between 1993 and 1996.

Jorginho after his penality miss.Credit:Getty

The result could have been more positive had Jorginho converted from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute after Domenico Berardi had been fouled, but the Chelsea midfielder was thwarted by home goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

Luis Enrique shook up his team and got the result he wanted as Spain beat Georgia 4-0. The game against the modest rival had become an almost must-win affair for Spain after their disappointing loss at Sweden on Thursday that cost them first place in Europe’s Group B.

Midfielder Serge Gnabry scored two early goals as Germany rediscovered their form in front of goal to hammer Armenia 6-0 and go top of qualifying Group J with 12 points from five games. Germany’s attack struggled in a laboured 2-0 win over Liechtenstein on Thursday in their first game under new coach Hansi Flick, but against Armenia it all came together in a dazzling display.

And Jesse Lingard returned to the scoresheet for England for the first time in three years with two goals in his side’s 4-0 win over Andorra. Lingard opened the scoring in the 18th minute and struck again late on after Harry Kane had finally doubled England’s lead with a 72nd-minute penalty.

Bukayo Saka gave a more realistic reflection of England’s total domination against the Pyrenees principality when he headed in a fourth goal.

AP

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