Uneasy Scenes Mar Argentina's World Cup Qualifier Victory Over Brazil
World champions Argentina delivered a historic defeat to Brazil at their home turf in the World Cup qualifiers, but the celebration was marred by unsavory incidents in the stands. Lionel Messi and his teammates were left bewildered. Meanwhile, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni shared thoughtful insights on his potential future.
The violence in the stands left Messi stunned. "This is unfair. It's madness. It needs to stop immediately," said the Argentine superstar with a grim expression. While Argentina secured a 1-0 victory against Brazil, what grabbed people's attention were the horrifying images of injured fans, police officers beaten and festering hatred in the stadium.
Messi praised the Argentine team's effort, "We made history." But he lamented that the victory was overshadowed by the incidents occurring off the pitch. Ahead of the game, violence erupted, and the police used excessive force to control the riotous crowd.
Soccer's governing body, FIFA, took notice. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, through his Instagram, urged for prompt action to stop the violence at soccer events. He called upon relevant authorities to beef up security measures, ensuring the safety of all players, fans, staff, and officials.
Meanwhile, Scaloni's comments on his potential retirement sent shockwaves through the Argentine camp. "It's not goodbye," he said, but then added, "The bar is set high and it's challenging to keep up." Scaloni admitted, "I need to seriously consider my next move," and he would discuss the matter with the team's president and his players.
Fans had to wait 27 minutes to kick off the game due to the riotous behavior. Argentina took the lead when Nicolas Otamendi headed in the goal (63rd), while Brazil's Brazil Joelinton (83) was sent off with a red card for a misconduct. In the bigger perspective, Argentina maintained their lead to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, while Brazil remained teetering with only one ticket to the finals.
Brazil's interim coach Fernando Diniz expressed his disappointment over the results but believed it was a valuable experience for the future. Besides, Carlo Ancelotti is tipped to take charge of the Brazil team next year, but the Real Madrid coach hasn't signed an official deal with Brazil's football authority yet.
The violence in the stands was unacceptable to Lionel Messi, while FIFA's Gianni Infantino pushed for increased security measures at soccer events. Lionel Scaloni's remarks about considering his future puzzled the team but Argentina moved on, focusing on their World Cup qualification campaign.
Enrichment Insights
Soccer-related violence has been an ongoing issue, with cases like the Super East Java Derby between Arema and Persebaya Surabaya, which ended in the deaths of many fans[1]. Measures such as investigations, international cooperation, stadium security improvements, enhanced police presence, and alcohol control are being considered as ways to stop soccer-related violence[2][3].
References
- BCC News. (2021, November 3). Indonesian football riots: Dozens killed in Kanjuruhan Stadium disaster. BBC News.
- The Guardian. (2021, October 31). Fan violence is a global problem – but there are steps to solve it. The Guardian.
- Capitalsports.com. (2021, November 3). FIFA introduces new rules to tackle hooliganism and violence at the world cup. Capitalsports.com.
