Brazil-Argentina ordered by FIFA to replay World Cup qualifier

Brazil and Argentina will replay the abandoned 2022 World Cup qualifier after their appeals were rejected by the global football body FIFA on Monday.

Brazilian health officials stormed the pitch seven minutes into the clash on Sept. 5 between the South American giants in Sao Paulo, stopping the match and triggering a melee involving team officials and players.

According to Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), four Argentine players based at English clubs at the time should have been placed in “immediate quarantine” for breaching COVID-19 protocols.

FIFA in February ordered a replay and banned Cristian Romero and then club teammate Giovani Lo Celso of Tottenham, and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia for two matches.

World football’s governing body also handed a series of fines to the two national football federations, prompting both to lodge appeals.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee upheld the 50,000 Swiss francs ($50,342) fines imposed on both as a result of the abandonment.

However, it reduced a separate 500,000 Swiss franc fine given to the Brazilian FA to 250,000 Swiss francs and halved the Argentine FA’s initial fine of 200,000 Swiss francs.

Argentina’s football association said it would “request today the grounds for both decisions” before appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against its second fine and the decision to replay the match.

Brazil and Argentina have already qualified for the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

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