FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed strong disapproval of the violence that erupted during the FIFA World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina on November 21. Disturbing confrontations unfolded between Brazilian police and travelling fans at the renowned Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The police charged the fans with batons, and among them were with their families.
Chaos broke out behind one of the goalposts as fans tried to jump onto the pitch to evade the police intervention. The match came to a standstill for thirty minutes, with players trying to pacify the situation before eventually returning to their dressing rooms.
In a statement issued on November 22, Infantino emphasised the utmost importance of safety and urged the Brazil Football Confederation to respect it at all levels.
"Without exception, all players, fans, staff and managers need to be safe and protected to play and enjoy football and I urge the competent authorities to ensure this is respected at all levels," Infantino said in a statement.
Earlier in November, there were violent confrontations between supporters of Argentina's Boca Juniors and Brazil's Fluminense ahead of their Copa Libertadores final between the clubs.
Lionel Messi's Statements
Argentina's captain Lionel Messi accused the Brazilian police of brutality and expressed dismay at the severe beating of people and said it was a terrible situation.
"It was bad because we saw how they were beating people. The police, as it already happened in the Libertadores final, were once again repressing the people with nightsticks, some players had families over there," Messi said in a pitchside television interview.
Conflict erupted between Brazilian and Argentine fans behind one of the goals during the national anthems, leading to the police charging at the travelling fans with nightsticks. In retaliation, Argentina fans tore up seats and hurled them at the officers, causing panic among other spectators who sought refuge on the pitch to avoid the ongoing fighting.
"We went to the locker room because it was the best way to calm everything down, it could have ended in tragedy," Messi further added.
"You think about the families, the people who are there, who don't know what's going on and we were more concerned about that than playing a match that, at that point, was of secondary importance," concluded the legendary footballer.
Argentina won a 1-0 with a headed goal from defender Nicolas Otamendi in the 63rd minute. The team celebrated the win over their arch-rivals in front of their fans at the same end of the ground where the earlier trouble had occurred.
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