Police investigating four Argentines over WCup qualifier chaos
Published:Monday | September 6, 2021 | 5:00 PM
SAO PAULO (AP) — Four Argentina footballers are being investigated by Brazil federal police for allegedly providing false information upon arrival in Sao Paulo for a World Cup qualifying match.
The Brazil-Argentina qualifier on Sunday was interrupted after seven minutes when agents of Brazil's health agency, Anvisa, insisted they should take England-based players Emiliano Martinez, Emiliano Buendia, Giovanni Lo Celso, and Cristian Romero to the airport for breaching coronavirus protocols.
Anvisa said Argentina soccer officials knew since Saturday that the four players — three of whom were on the field — should not play because they were in the United Kingdom 14 days before their arrival, but did not inform authorities as required.
Visitors from the UK must undergo a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine.
Brazil federal police confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday the four players received a notification to leave the country on Sunday night and had to give written statements to authorities.
They flew with the rest of the Argentina squad to Buenos Aires shortly after.
The match was abandoned without a score.
Argentina tweeted on Monday that Martinez and Buendia were authorised to return to England so they could rejoin their club Aston Villa.
It did not discuss the situation for Tottenham's Lo Celso and Romero.
Anvisa director Alex Campos said Argentina “repeatedly ignored the agency's recommendations.”
FIFA has also started an investigation.
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