RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil: A highly anticipated World Cup qualifier between Argentina and Brazil was marred by violence on Tuesday, as fans clashed both inside and outside of the stadium. The match was ultimately delayed for nearly an hour due to the unrest.
The trouble began early in the day, as fans of both teams gathered outside of the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Instances of conflict and destruction were documented, resulting in multiple injuries. Law enforcement had to resort to deploying tear gas in order to scatter the crowds.
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The violence continued inside the stadium as well. Once the match began, fans from both teams threw projectiles at each other and clashed in the stands. There were also reports of fans attempting to invade the pitch.
The match was eventually delayed for 54 minutes due to the violence. When play resumed, Brazil went on to win the match 1-0.
“It’s a disgrace to football,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni. “This is not the image we want to project to the world.”
Brazil coach Tite echoed Scaloni’s sentiments. “This is not football,” he said. “This is hooliganism.”
Fabrizio Romano reports that the violence at the Argentina vs. Brazil match was sparked by a group of Brazilian fans who threw projectiles at Argentinian fans. The article also reports that several people were injured in the clashes.
🚨🇧🇷🇦🇷 Crazy scenes in the stands at Maracanã between Brazilian police and Argentina fans.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 22, 2023
Full footage by @_igorrodrigues 🎥 pic.twitter.com/lF4uzyI8A9
FIFA, the international soccer governing body, has denounced the acts of violence. In a statement, FIFA said that it was “deeply concerned” about the incident and that it would be “investigating the matter fully.”
“We are committed to ensuring that all fans can enjoy the game of football in a safe and secure environment,” FIFA said.
It is clear that more needs to be done to prevent fan violence at soccer matches in South America. FIFA and the relevant authorities need to work together to implement stricter security measures and to educate fans about the dangers of violence.
“We need to send a strong message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino. “We need to work together to ensure that football is a game for everyone.”