Audio By Carbonatix
Fifa have banned four Argentina players - three from the Premier League - after September's World Cup qualifier against Brazil was abandoned for not following international match protocols.
Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia and Emiliano Martinez and Tottenham's Cristian Romero have been sanctioned and will miss the final two qualifiers.
Giovani Lo Celso has also been banned.
The match in Sao Paulo was halted after kick-off as health officials felt the players had broken quarantine rules.
The dramatic intervention from Brazilian authorities striding onto the pitch came just five minutes into the qualifier at the Corinthians Arena on 5th September.
Fifa's disciplinary committee said the match will be replayed on a date and location to be decided by football's world governing body.
Both Brazil and Argentina have two games remaining but have already qualified for the finals in Qatar later this year.
Following an investigation, Fifa banned Buendia, Martinez and Romero, as well as Villarreal midfielder Lo Celso, on loan from Tottenham, for two matches. That rules them out of the remaining home game against Venezuela and away trip to Ecuador.
Brazilian rules at the time stated anyone that had been in the UK in the 14 days prior to arriving in the country must quarantine for 14 days immediately upon arrival.
The Argentine Football Association said the team complied with all health protocols.
But Fifa handed fines to both countries for the following:
- Both Brazil and Argentina Football Associations have been fined £40,000 after the abandonment of the match.
- The Brazilian FA are to pay a £400,000 fine for infringements relating to order and security.
- The Argentine FA are to pay a £160,000 fine for failure to comply with obligations relating to order and security, as well as its preparations for the match.
Latest Stories
-
Don’t scrap OSP – Anti-corruption CSO demands review
3 hours -
GIS, EU vow closer security cooperation to boost northern border control
3 hours -
IGP leads major show of force with new armoured fleet
4 hours -
Two female prison officers killed in ghastly crash
5 hours -
Abolish or Reform? Abu Jinapor counsels sober reflection on debate over future of Special Prosecutor’s Office
7 hours -
2026 World Cup: Can Ghana navigate England, Croatia, and Panama in Group L?
7 hours -
NAIMOS task force arrests 9 Chinese illegal miners, destroys equipment at Dadieso
7 hours -
NAIMOS advances into Atiwa Forest, uncovers child labour, river diversion and heavy machinery
7 hours -
NAIMOS Task Force storms Fanteakwa South, dismantles galamsey operations
8 hours -
The Kissi Agyebeng Removal Bid: A Look at the Numbers
9 hours -
DVLA to roll out digitised accident reports, new number plates and 24-hour services
9 hours -
DVLA Workers’ Union opens 2025 Annual Residential Delegates Congress with call for excellence, equity and solidarity
9 hours -
Scholarships Secretariat sets December 8–9 interviews for Commonwealth Scholarship applicants
9 hours -
WASSCE decline reveals deep gaps, there’s need to overhaul education system – Franklin Cudjoe
10 hours -
JOY FM Drive Time host Lexis Bill leads fans up Aburi Mountain in energetic ‘Walk With Lexis’ fitness experience
10 hours
