The World Cup qualifier match pitting Brazil against Argentina has sensationally been abandoned after Brazilian health authorities stormed the pitch to detain some of the Argentine players.

Emiliano Martinez, Emiliano Buendia, Cristian Romero and Giovanni Lo Celso, who all play their club football in England, allegedly failed to follow Brazilian health protocols.

The quartet was accused of falsifying information for entering Brazil due to Covid-19 protocols. 

They had allegedly indicated that they had been in Argentina and Venezuela rather than in England and thus the four did not quarantine as is required of those entering Brazil from the United Kingdom.

But, a few minutes into the encounter, officials stormed the pitch to stop Martinez, Romero and Lo Celso from playing. Buendia started the match on the substitutes' bench.

Read More

  1. Senator Orwoba's call for stricter X regulation sparks outrage in Kenya
  2. Pelé, Brazilian football legend and global icon, dies aged 82 after battle with cancer
  3. Raila Odinga defends his Sh6,000 monthly stipend pledge if Azimio wins

Chaos and confusion ensued before Argentina players decided to walk off the pitch.

Argentine captain, Lionel Messi, walked back onto the pitch after some time to have a word with the Brazilians before walking back into the tunnel where he exchanged jerseys with Brazil legend and former Barcelona teammate, Dani Alves.

"It's an embarrassment. We've been in Brazil for three days and nothing happened," Messi said.

"They told us we could play before the match. They were just waiting until the match started. Why did they make us play then?"

It remains to be seen what South American football governing body, CONMEBOL would do about the fixture but the early indication is that the points may be awarded to Argentina.

Brazil currently leads the South American qualifiers with Argentina second, six points behind their fierce rivals.