The kickoff between Brazil and Argentina faced a significant delay following intense clashes erupting between fans and law enforcement, disrupting the anticipated match.
Conmebol World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium was marred by tumultuous scenes, resulting in an unprecedented turn of events.
Argentina clinched a historic 1-0 victory over Brazil, marking Brazil’s inaugural home loss in World Cup qualifying matches. Prior to this game, Brazil had an impeccable record of 51 wins, 13 draws, and no losses in 64 such encounters.
However, the clash was overshadowed by disturbing incidents in the stands. Chaos erupted during the national anthem ceremony, triggering clashes between local and Argentine fans. The escalating tensions led to confrontations between the police and fans, with officers wielding batons in response to fans ripping up and hurling seats at them.
The situation escalated further as panicked spectators sought refuge by invading the pitch amid the ongoing turmoil. Emergency services attended to at least one injured fan, who was subsequently evacuated from the stadium on a stretcher.
In an attempt to quell the chaos, Argentine players appealed for calm among the spectators. Lionel Messi notably led his team back to the dressing room while goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez directly implored police to cease the violence from the stands.
The shocking scenes of violence and disruption have drawn widespread condemnation, overshadowing what was meant to be a showcase of football talent between two powerhouse nations.
“We saw how they [the police] were hitting people and many players had family members in that area. We couldn’t focused on playing the game,” Messi said after the game. “This also happened here in the Copa Libertadores. [The Brazilian police] again repressing the people.”
Argentina informed their Brazilian counterparts that they would only resume the match once the situation in the stadium had settled. After spending 22 minutes in the dressing room, they emerged and engaged in a brief three-minute warm-up before the game resumed.
“We decided to leave the field because it was impossible to play under those conditions. And we also thought we going back to the locker room could help to calm down the situation,” Messi added.
At the match’s outset, a swarm of policemen encircled cheering Argentina fans, with additional security positioned on the pitch. Law enforcement gathered near the section capable of holding 3,000 fans, while all 69,000 tickets for the event had been sold. Prior to the altercation, Brazil fans alternated between cheering and jeering Messi, only to turn against him upon his return to the pitch.
While the Argentina team reconciled, Brazil players stayed on the field, continuing their warm-up until the opposition’s return. Following Argentina’s triumph, Messi took to Instagram, celebrating their victory while also condemning the violence that marred the stands.
“This team continues to make history…Great victory at the Maracana although it will be marked by the repression of Argentina fans once again in Brazil. This madness can’t be tolerated, and it has to end now!!,” Messi said.
Ahead of the match, numerous Brazil fans showed support for the Argentine star, with dozens of children donning Messi jerseys from his former clubs Barcelona and Inter Miami.
In the South American World Cup qualifiers, Argentina topped the charts with 12 points from five matches, while Brazil found themselves in fifth place. Both teams suffered defeats in their recent encounters within the 10-team round-robin competition.
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