chaos unfolds at maracanã
Savage scenes marred the World Cup qualifier match between Brazil and Argentina at the iconic Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro (0:1).
Role reversal ensued as rival supporters brawled in the stands before the Brazilian authorities, armed to the teeth, intervened and targeted Argentine world champions' fans, brandishing batons.
Contents of a grisly video on X (previously Twitter) revealed a supporter sprawled on a stretcher drenched in blood, displaying a gaping wound to the head.
The Argentine squad members, including superstar Lionel Messi (36), exerted their best efforts to quell the disorder. Controversially, Argentina's keeper Emiliano Martínez (31, Aston Villa) was captured on film attempting to wrench a baton from an officer's grasp, only to be restrained by a teammate.
Post-match, Lionel Messi decried the recurrent suppression of Argentines by Brazilians, branding it unacceptable and ludicrous, imploring an immediate halt to such behavior.
"Today, we defied history, but it's essential to acknowledge that tonight was further stained by the Brazilian regime's assault on Argentines. This is simmering unacceptable. Ridiculous. It must cease immediately," Messi asserted.
Adding fuel to the fire, Messi continued to denounce the police's actions, informing that "we saw officers battering bystanders, even our kin attended the game. This has been happening for quite some time, both in the Copa Libertadores final and elsewhere. We're a united family. We chose to perform, aiming to restore order."
With the crowd hushed once more, the match began after a 27-minute delay. Regrettably, the rivalry took a backseat due to the ensuing violence.
Albiceleste, led by Messi, inflicted a devastating blow against their arch-rivals through a thunderous header from Nicolás Otamendi (63rd minute). This was, remarkably, Brazil's first defeat in World Cup qualifying in front of a home audience since time immemorial.
The titanic South American rivals find themselves in a precarious position with regards to 2026 World Cup qualification. Last week, five-time champions Brazil succumbed to defeat at Colombia's hands (2-1), whereas Argentina suffered a paltry 2-0 loss at home to Uruguay – an unusual setback for Argentina following their World Cup win.
Argentina sit atop the table with 15 points, Uruguay (13) in second place, and Colombia (12) closely following. Brazil, plagued by a meager 7 points, struggle for an elusive spot.
During this frenetic buildup, Lionel Messi and the Argentine squad worked tirelessly to reduce tensions, while Emiliano Martínez himself involved in questionable offenses, resulting in a two-game suspension handed down by FIFA for "abrasive conduct." These transgressions – including explicit gestures with accrued trophies and purloining a local television camera – bear no direct connection to the police violence and fans clashes.
All in all, the nightmarish confrontations between police and Argentina fans cannot be divorced from the broader context of football hooliganism and rampant violence, straining inter-regional relations.
