Violent clashes in the stands overshadowed the duel between the great soccer powers Brazil and Argentina in the World Cup qualification and pushed Brazil’s historic defeat into the background.
“There were family members of the players. We were more worried about that than about the game,” said Argentina’s superstar Lionel Messi about the turmoil after the world champion’s 1-0 (0-0) win. For record world champions Brazil, it was their first ever home defeat in a World Cup qualification.
The clashes at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro began shortly after the national anthems were played. Among other things, parts of benches and other objects were thrown by some fans. At least one person was injured. According to their own information, the police arrested eight people.
Infantino condemns riots
The players initially tried to calm the situation, but then went into the dressing room. The game started 27 minutes late because of the riots. “We did that because it was the way to calm everything down. We couldn’t do much from below. We saw them beating people,” Messi said of the police operation.
“There is absolutely no place for violence in football, neither on the pitch nor off,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino wrote on Instagram. Such events “have no place in our sport and our society,” added the 53-year-old Swiss: “Without exception, all players, fans, employees and officials must be safe and protected in order to be able to play and enjoy football.”
The tension in the stands spilled over onto the field in the first 20 minutes of the game. Numerous fouls initially characterized the game. Benfica Lisbon’s Nicolás Otamendi scored the decisive goal for Argentina with a header from a corner in the 63rd minute.
Messi replaced
Messi complained of pain in his right thigh twice in the first half and had to be treated. In the 78th minute he was substituted for Ángel Di María. Brazil played the last few minutes outnumbered after former Hoffenheim striker Joelinton was shown a red card for a hit on Rodrigo De Paul in the 81st minute.
Most recently, Argentina and Brazil failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Last week, Brazil lost 2-1 in Colombia. Argentina lost 2-0 at home to Uruguay. For Messi’s team it was the first defeat since the World Cup.
After the victory in Rio, Argentina remains at the top of the table with 15 points after six match days, followed by Uruguay (13) and Colombia (12). Brazil is sixth with seven points.
