FIFA chief issues strong criticism over violence during Brazil’s WC qualifying match against Argentina. Following nasty altercations prior to Brazil’s World Cup qualifying match against Argentina, FIFA Chief Gianni Infantino declared on Wednesday that violence had no place in football.
Brazilian police confronted Argentina supporters during a brawl between opposing fans that erupted after the playing of the national anthems in a stand behind one of the goals at the Maracana stadium in Rio on Tuesday.
This kind of aggression has no place in football, either on or off the field. “Such incidents, like those witnessed during Brazil vs. Argentina’s World Cup qualifier at Maracana, have no place in our society,” Infantino wrote on Instagram.
In addition, he pleaded with the organizers to give the players and spectators a safe environment.
“To play and enjoy football, all players, spectators, teams, and officials must be safe and secure. “I urge the pertinent authorities to guarantee that this is upheld in every manner,” stated Infantino.
Just before kickoff, there had been an altercation in the Maracana stands, resulting in the use of batons by Brazilian police.
Lionel Messi and other Argentina players approached the agitation in an effort to settle things down. At one point, Emi Martinez, the goalkeeper for Aston Villa and Argentina, tried to lunge into the seating section to face a Brazilian policeman with a baton.
As the altercations persisted, Messi and the other Argentine players went back to their dressing room, where Messi seemed to declare, “We’re not playing, we’re leaving.”
“We went to the locker room because it was a way to calm everything down a little,” Messi stated. “We went to check on our families and other loved ones. After that, we returned.”
Nicolas Otamendi’s goal helped Argentina go on to defeat Brazil 1-0, and with 15 points from six games, they now lead the South American qualifying rankings.
Meanwhile, Brazil’s third loss in the qualifying round drops the five-time world champions to sixth place after six games played with seven points.
