Home

Brazil oppose FIFA's Argentina replay call

Staff WritersDeutsche Presse Agentur
Lionel Messi was led off the field after health officials halted last year's qualifier in Brazil. (AP PHOTO)
Camera IconLionel Messi was led off the field after health officials halted last year's qualifier in Brazil. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AP

Brazil have reiterated they do not want to play the suspended World Cup qualifier against Argentina due to risks ahead of Qatar 2022.

The Selecao, along with the Albiceleste, both comfortably qualified for Qatar 2022 despite last September's fixture in Sao Paulo being halted after six minutes when Brazilian health officials objected to the participation of four Argentinian players who they claimed broke COVID quarantine rules.

The officials sensationally entered the pitch to remove those four players, with the Argentinian players subsequently walking off amid the chaos before the fixture was suspended.

FIFA fined both national bodies and insisted that the qualifier needed to be completed despite its irrelevance to qualifying.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

The Brazil Football Confederation (CBF) and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) took the case to the Court for Arbitration of Sport (CAS), who will rule later this month.

The Game AFL 2024

No date has been set by FIFA for the fixture, but it is anticipated it will be in September.

CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues said the national team did not want to play the fixture two months out from the World Cup due to risks with injuries and suspensions, along with a possible Argentinian boycott.

"We will reach out to FIFA so this match is not played," Rodrigues said in a statement.

"I will make every effort to answer to the request of our coaching staff.

"Our priority is to win a sixth World Cup in Qatar. If that match is not recommended by the coaching staff of the Selecao, we will work for it not to be played."

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails