Connect with us

Governing Bodies

Argentina appeal decision to replay World Cup qualifier

Published

on

World Cup – South American Qualifiers – Brazil v Argentina – Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Brazil – September 5, 2021 Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazil’s Neymar are seen as play is interrupted after Brazilian health officials objected to the participation of three Argentine players they say broke quarantine rules REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) will appeal what it says is FIFA’s decision to force Brazil and Argentina to replay their World Cup qualifier, which was cancelled after five minutes due to a breach of COVID-19 quarantine rules.

An official with the association said Argentina would take their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“We believe the decision to be unfair and we believe that Argentina did not cause the game to be cancelled,” Andres Urich, an advisor to the association, said on Argentine television. “We think we are in the right and we believe we have to take it to the Court.”

Earlier in the day, Argentine media published a letter from FIFA that purportedly ordered the two teams to play the cancelled game on Sept. 22.

The original match was called off in September 2021 when Brazilian health officials accused four Argentine players of misleading officials about their COVID-19 status.

The officials said the Argentines had breached rules stating travellers who had been in the UK, South Africa or India during the previous two weeks were forbidden from entering Brazil unless they were citizens or had permanent residency.

Advertisement

The players had misled border officials by declaring they had not been in a red list country during the 14 days before the game, the Brazilian officials said.

Argentine officials said they believed the same protocols used in the Copa America in Brazil in June last year were in place for the World Cup qualifiers to allow teams to travel across the continent. The South American Football Confederation confirmed that interpretation

FIFA, however, suspended the four players for two matches and said they wanted the game played.

Argentina appealed that decision two months ago but said it had not received a resolution and called Friday’s move hasty.

“It’s hasty because it does not answer the first appeal and that is confirmed there is another instance, that is the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the AFA will appeal,” Urich said.

Advertisement

The result of the match between South America’s two footballing superpowers is immaterial to World Cup qualification as both teams have already secured their places in Qatar.

-Reuters

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

Continue Reading
Advertisement