Officials invade pitch during live Brazil-Argentina football match to deport 4 EPL players – Watch viral video here

The match between the two South American football champions was stopped at Sao Paulo’s Neo Quimica Arena amid dramatic scenes when a squad of Brazilian public health inspectors entered the pitch, prompting a conflict involving team staff and players.

As the controversy developed, Argentina’s players went off the field to the locker room. As chaos caught the stadium, Argentina captain Lionel Messi came from the tunnel without his team shirt on.

Lionel Messi to Brazilian health officials:

“It’s an embarrassment.We have been in Brazil for 3 days and nothing happened.”#BRAARG #BrazilArgentina #WorldCupQualifiers #WCQ2022 #EliminatoriasQatar2022 pic.twitter.com/lVkzDUDQOm

— Philip Alimo (@alimo_philip) September 5, 2021

The South American Football Confederation declared in a conclusion that the match had been “suspended,” but did not say if it will be resumed or postponed. They also said, “The referee and the match commissioner will submit a report to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which will determine the steps to follow. These procedures adhere strictly to current regulations.”

For violating COVID-19 protocols, Premier League players Giovani Lo Celso, Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, and Emiliano Buendia were dismissed from Argentina’s team.

#EliminatoriaSudamericana#BrazilArgentina Maracagazo brasilero pic.twitter.com/sT0wxESyLc

— Claudio Fantini (@CLAUDIOFANTlNl) September 5, 2021

According to ANVISA, Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency, the players gave “false information” when entering the country. The four Premier League players were accused of misreporting their 14-day stay in the United Kingdom previous to their arrival in Brazil. The officials said, “(The 4 players) were directed to remain isolated while awaiting deportation, but they did not comply. They went to the stadium and they entered the field, in a series of breaches,”

#JUSTIN – The #Brazilian health authorities stopped the #BrazilArgentina match in the #WorldCupQualifiers 5 minutes after its start, to #arrest 4 players over Covid rules#WorldCupQualifiers #BrazilArgentina pic.twitter.com/kZnGxcMdxU

— Vinay Tiwari (@vinaytiwari9697) September 5, 2021

Brazilian officials have made it illegal for anyone from the United Kingdom, India, or South Africa to enter the nation. Anyone from those three nations is prohibited from entering Brazil, according to a government order dated June 23.

“ANVISA considers that this situation represents a serious health risk and recommends that the local health authorities order the immediate quarantine of the players,” the agency said.

Following the game’s suspension, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni criticized Brazilian authorities. Scaloni told Argentina’s TyCSports network, “It makes me very sad – we are the victims in the sense that we wanted to play the game, the Brazilian players also wanted to play it and the show was to be played,”.

The play “should have been a celebration for everyone, to enjoy the match with the finest in the world,” according to Scaloni. The issue erupted after nine Brazilians based in the Premier League were denied entry to South America due to club concerns.

The 4 players have reportedly left Brazil onboard an Argentine plane.