World Cup Qualifier Between Brazil and Argentina Postponed Due to Fan Violence
Messi: We Had to Go to the Locker Room to Avoid Tragedy
Due to violent altercations between police and visiting supporters at Maracana Stadium on Tuesday, the start of the World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina was postponed for thirty minutes.
When the national anthems were playing, locals and Argentinean supporters got into a brawl behind one of the goals, which prompted the Brazilian police to rush toward the visiting team with night sticks.
When other fans panicked and fled onto the field to escape the violence, some Argentina supporters retaliated by tearing up and hurling chairs at the police.
Before being carried out the stadium on a stretcher, one Argentina supporter was seen lying prone on the field with his face cut open.
After leaving the field and heading back to the dressing room, the Argentina squad, headed by captain Lionel Messi, walked over to the fans in an attempt to diffuse the tension. "We observed how they were striking the people, once more suppressing the people," Messi said during a TV interview conducted pitchside.
"It occurred in the Libertadores final previously. The only way to defuse the situation was to go to the locker room; else, a tragic outcome may have occurred."
Before the teams' Copa Libertadores final earlier this month, there were also violent altercations in Rio de Janeiro between supporters of Brazil's Fluminense and Argentina's Boca Juniors.
After the police had gathered the visiting supporters in a pen on Tuesday, the Argentina players ultimately made their way back, and the game finally began after a protracted wait.
Argentina defeated their closest rivals 1-0 thanks to a headed goal by defender Nicolas Otamendi in the 63rd minute. The triumph was celebrated in front of the supporters at the same end of the stadium where the disturbance had happened.
Five-time World Cup champions Brazil suffered their third consecutive loss, with midfielder Joelinton being sent off eighteen minutes from the end.
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