On Sunday, a major controversy erupted over COVID-19 protocols in Brazil's World Cup qualifying clash against Argentina as the match was sensationally abandoned shortly after kick off.
The match between the two Giants of South American football was halted when Brazilian health officials ran onto the pitch, triggering a melee involving team officials and players from both sides.
This intervention came just hours after the health authorities in Brazil said four England-based players in Argentina's squad should be placed in "immediate quarantine" for breaching COVID-19 protocols.
According to Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), Premier League players, Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotpsurs and Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia of Aston Villa had provided "false information" upon their entry to Brazil.
Romero, Lo Celso and Martinez were in the starting line-up during kick off which led to this sudden intervention by ANVISA officials.
The Four Players were accused of failing to disclose that they had spent time in the UK in their 14 days prior to their arrival in Brazil.
Both sets of players later left the field as confusion reigned over the fate of the game.
Argentina Captain Lionel Messi later hitted out at the Brazilian officials.
- "We've been here for three days, why are you doing this just now?" he said on Argentina TyC Network.
South American football governing body, CONMEBOL in a statement later said that the game has been suspended, but didn't mention about any rematch or whether either one of them will have to forfeit.
These two teams last met on 10th July,2021 in the Copa America Final which saw Argentina beat their arch-rivals 1-0 to end their international trophy drought.
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