A repeat of
the Copa America final between Brazil and Argentina did not go as planned in Sunday’s
World Cup qualifier at the NeoQuimica Arena in Sao Paolo. Brazilian health
officials stormed the pitch to detain three Argentinian players who allegedly “didn’t
comply with coronavirus restrictions”, Reuters reported.

The match was
suspended at 0-0 after chaotic scenes as players, coaches, football officials
and local authorities engaged in heated exchanges for several minutes on the field.
Lionel Messi looked visibly frusteated with the events on the field, as he
reportedly asked officials why they acted now as they had been in the
country for at least three days.

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Here is what
you need to know about the incident:

What caused the chaos?

At the seventh
minute of the match, a group of Brazilian health officials stormed the pitch
and interrupted the proceedings. Anvisa, the Brazilian health agency, said that
three Argentina players based in the England’s Premier League should have been
quarantined upon arrival in Brazil.

According
to the official COVID-19 protocols in Brazil, people travelling from a country on
its red list for COVID-19 risks face a 14-day quarantine upon arrival. The players
in question were Tottenham Hotspur duo Christian Romero and Giovani lo Celso,
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

The former
Arsenal shot stopper’s teammate Emiliano Buendia was also under the scanner,
although he did not start the game.

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Officials
said the four players told immigration officers they had not been in England in
the last 14 days or in any country in Brazil’s red list. They travelled with the Argentina squad to
Venezuela, with Martinez and Lo Celso part of the Albiceleste’s 3-1 win over
Venezuela.

“We’re not
talking about a lie or anything,” Argentina federation president Claudio Tapia
said “because there are health rules under which FIFA qualifiers and all South
American tournaments — Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana — are played and
which all the health authorities of each country approved. It’s a protocol that
is in effect and the 10 federations worked on together, and we’ve been
complying with it.”

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Meanwhile,
the decision to interrupt the match was “never within the reach” of Anvisa, the
Brazilian health agency said, adding that they did need to act as Argentina
fielded players who did not comply with Brazil’s laws and health norms and
offered false information to authorities.

What are Brazil’s health protocols?

According
to CNN, Brazil banned flights to and from the United Kingdom, since the emergence
of the Alpha variant of COVID. Anyone who has been in the UK in the last 14 days cannot enter Brazil, with the exception of residents, their family members and some business travel. 

Brazil has also banned flights from or
transiting through India and South Africa.

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What will happen next?

There is
speculation that one of the teams might be punished for its role in the confusion.
The final decision will lie with FIFA with the global football watchdog saying
in a statement, “FIFA can confirm that following a decision by the match
officials, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying match between Brazil and
Argentina has been suspended. Further details will follow in due course.”

Reports suggest Argentina may get three points if the match is ultimately cancelled.

Both teams will
next be in action on Thursday, with Brazil hosting Peru while Argentina will
host Bolivia.