FIFA chief Gianni Infantino mentioned Wednesday there was no place in soccer for violence after ugly clashes forward of Brazil’s World Cup qualifier towards Argentina.
A skirmish between rival followers broke out in the course of the nationwide anthems in a stand behind one of many objectives on the Maracana stadium in Rio on Tuesday with Brazilian police confronting Argentina followers.
“There’s no place in football for this kind of violence, on or off the pitch. Such events as seen during the World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina at Maracana have no place in our society,” Infantino mentioned on Instagram.
He additionally urged the organisers to offer a safe setting for the followers and the gamers.
“Without exception, all players, fans, teams and officials have to be secure and safe to play and enjoy football. I call on relevant authorities to ensure that this is respected at all levels,” Infantino mentioned.
Tempers had flared within the Maracana stands moments earlier than kick-off, with Brazilian police utilizing batons.
Argentina gamers together with Lionel Messi went in the direction of the disturbances in an try and plead for calm. Argentina and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez tried to leap into the seating space at one stage to confront a baton-wielding Brazilian police officer.
Messi and the opposite Argentinian gamers then returned to their dressing room because the clashes continued, with Messi showing to say: “We’re not playing, we’re leaving.”
“We went to the locker room because it was a way to calm everything down a little,” Messi mentioned. “We went to see how our families and people close to us were doing. And then we came back.”
Argentina went on to defeat Brazil 1-0 because of a aim from Nicolas Otamendi and sit high of the South American qualifying standings with 15 factors from six video games.
Brazil’s third defeat of qualifying, in the meantime, leaves the five-time world champions in sixth place with seven factors from six video games.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
