Brazil vs. Argentina WCQ game suspended to deport four players

Brazil's health authority and Federal Police walked onto the pitch after six minutes of play to detain the three Argentinian players who are accused of breaking Brazil's quarantine laws by providing false information on their immigration forms.

Anvisa, Brazil’s health regulator, had said the players, who had spent time in the UK over the past two weeks, should have been in quarantine upon their arrival to Brazil.

However, Argentina fielded

Emiliano Martinez

in goal,

Cristian Romero

in central defense, and

Giovani Lo Celso

in midfield despite Brazil’s health regulator's order.

After six minutes a number of police and health officers suddenly entered the pitch to apprehend Martinez, Romero, Buendia, and Lo Celso.

"It was necessary to keep our sanitary protocol,"

said Antonio Barra Torres, the head of the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency

.

"We called the federal police, that went to the hotel and we found out that they had already left for the Stadium. The rest is what you're watching live."

Argentina's squad walked off the pitch at the Corinthians arena after the officials entered the pitch to stop the game.

CONMEBOL has said the game was suspended and the decision on the result will be made by FIFA pending an investigation.

"The World Cup Qualifiers is a FIFA competition,"

wrote the South American football governing body in a statement.

"All decisions concerning its organization and development are the exclusive power of that institution.

"The referee and the match commissioner will submit a report to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which will determine the steps to be followed. These procedures strictly adhere to current regulations."

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