The Brazil–Argentina football World Cup qualifier has been suspended as the Brazilian Health Authorities have stormed onto the pitch to deport Emiliano Martinez, Giovani Lo Celso, and Cristian Romero.

Antonio Barra Torres, the president of Brazil’s health agency, Anvisa, said that the concerned Argentina players will be fined and deported for allegedly not following the country’s COVID-19 protocols.

The three players, and Emiliano Buendia, were earlier told to quarantine immediately and Brazil’s health agency had said in a statement that all four allegedly told immigration officers they had not recently been to the United Kingdom or anywhere else that Brazil puts on its own red list for COVID-19 risks.

The decision also instructed the four players to return to the “country of origin” without giving more details, the Associated Press reported.

But those three still featured in the starting lineup for the game and played the first ten minutes. The health officials then stormed onto the pitch to get them out and thus, the game was suspended.

The Argentine football governing body said in a tweet that the game was now suspended.

The players came to play for Argentina despite the Premier League not wanting them to be released for international duty due to the need to quarantine for 10 days in a hotel on their return.

Several England-based players did not travel because they would have to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine on their return. The decision was guided by their clubs.

Brazil itself lost nine Premier League players for the international window, including five frequent starters. It also lost two Zenit St. Petersburg players minutes before boarding a flight to Chile because their club called them back to Russia.

FIFA granted two additional catchup days for South America in September and October so three qualifiers can be played in each window, rather than the usual two. It also told soccer body CONMEBOL there will be consequences for clubs that do not release players as required, which could mean disciplinary action.

The complaints from European clubs also center on South America’s third game being on September 9, a Thursday. That is less than two days before domestic leagues resume in Europe.