The World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina was delayed by almost 30 minutes at the Maracana on Tuesday night after clashes between police and fans in the stands in Rio de Janeiro, with Lionel Messi saying the scene could have ended in “disaster”.
Argentina won the match 1–0 thanks to a second-half goal from Nicolas Otamendi, handing Brazil its first home defeat in World Cup qualifying. Brazil entered the season 51–13–0 in 64 such matches.
Locals and Argentina fans started fighting during the playing of the national anthem, prompting Brazilian police to charge the visiting team with batons. The fans responded and threw seats at the officials.
Fans near the problem became nervous and came onto the pitch to avoid the fight. At least one injured fan was taken from the stadium on a stretcher.
¡Partido retrasado😥!
😡 Por events en tribuna, encuentra detenido from Brazil vs Argentina.#eliminatoriassudamericanas #RumboAlMundial #argentina #Brazil pic.twitter.com/2eyGSOwmL0
– Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) 22 November 2023
Argentina’s players asked those in the stands to remain calm before Lionel Messi took them back to the dressing room. Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez climbed a train track in front of his team’s fans to ask police to stop the violence.
Messi said after the game, “We saw how they (police) were killing people and many players’ family members were in that area. We couldn’t concentrate on playing the game.” “It happened here at the Copa Libertadores too. (Brazilian police) are repressing people again.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino issued the following statement condemning the violence: “There is absolutely no room for violence in football, on or off the field.
“Such incidents, as witnessed during the FIFA World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina at the Maracana Stadium, have no place in our sport or society. Without exception, all players, fans, staff and officials It has to be safe to play and enjoy football and I call on the relevant authorities to ensure this is respected at all levels.”
Argentina told their Brazilian rivals that they would return to the field only after the situation had calmed down. He returned to the dressing room after 22 minutes and warmed up for three minutes before the start of the game.
“I think we did it to calm things down a little bit,” Messi said. “Could have been a disaster. When everything calmed down we decided to ask how everyone was, find out, and then we headed out.”
As the match began, dozens of policemen surrounded the Argentinian fans as they cheered, and there was even more security on the field. Police gathered around the section that can hold about 3,000 fans.
All 69,000 tickets for the match were sold. Brazilian fans, who had jeered and applauded Messi before the brawl broke out, chanted against him when he returned to the field.
The Brazilian players remained on the field and warmed up while waiting for the Argentine team to return.
In a message posted on his Instagram account after Argentina’s win, Messi celebrated his national team’s victory but also condemned the violence in the stands.
“This team is making history… a spectacular victory at the Maracana, although it will be marked by the repression of Argentine fans once again in Brazil. This madness cannot be tolerated, and it must end now!!” Messi said.
Before the match, the Argentinian star was warmly welcomed by many Brazilian fans, including dozens of children wearing the jerseys of Messi’s previous clubs Barcelona and Inter Miami.
Argentina top South American World Cup qualifying with 12 points from five matches. Brazil is in fifth place. Both teams lost their previous games in the 10-team round-robin competition.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
