ZURICH: FIFA has ordered that the abandoned World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina in should be played – though this may not be enacted since both nations are already certain of playing the finals and heavy pressure exists on available fixture slots.

September’s original match in Sao Paulo was halted after five minutes when Brazilian health officials invaded the pitch to stop Argentina’s England-based players, who they accused of breaching the country’s COVID-19 quarantine rules, from playing.

Emiliano Buendia, Emiliano Martinez, Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero were each banned for two international matches by FIFA’s disciplinary committee for failing to comply with its own Covid-19 protocols.

FIFA also fined the Brazilian and Argentine football associations 500,000 Swiss francs ($540,000) and 200,000 Swiss francs, respectively, for their failure to ensure “order and safety”.

On the day Brazilian officials claimed that the Argentinian federation had breached domestic regulations because players who had been in the UK, South Africa or India during the previous two weeks should have been ineligible to enter the country.

The AFA believed, on advice from South American confederation CONMEBOL, that protocols used in the Copa America in Brazil in June were in place for the World Cup qualifiers. These allowed designated teams to criss-cross the continent unimpeded.

FIFA said: “After a thorough investigation of the various factual elements and in light of the applicable regulations, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided that the match should be replayed on a date and at a location to be decided by FIFA.

“In addition, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has concluded that the abandonment of the match stemmed from several deficiencies of the parties involved.”

FIFA statement:

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has reached its decisions in relation to the abandoned Brazil v. Argentina match in the preliminary competition for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ on 5 September 2021. After a thorough investigation of the various factual elements and in light of the applicable regulations, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided that the match should be replayed on a date and at a location to be decided by FIFA. In addition, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has concluded that the abandonment of the match stemmed from several deficiencies of the parties involved towards their respective responsibilities and/or obligations in connection with the former. As such, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has also decided: to order the Brazilian Football Association to pay a fine of CHF 500,000 with respect to infringements related to order and security; to order the Argentinian Football Association to pay a fine of CHF 200,000 with respect to its failure to comply with its obligations in relation to order and security, the preparation of and its participation in the match; to order the Brazilian Football Association and the Argentinian Football Association to each pay a fine of CHF 50,000 as a result of the abandonment of the match; to suspend the Argentinian players Emiliano Buendía, Emiliano Martínez, Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero for two (2) matches each for not complying with the FIFA Return to Football International Match Protocol. The decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee were notified today to the parties concerned.