And finally. Here is our report from this evening’s abandoned match.
My quiet Sunday covering Brazil v Argentina went out the window about two hours ago. Oh well, it was fun (in a way). Thanks for joining me for this unique experience. I am sure the full facts will be ascertained in due course but we can all accept that today’s events were a complete and utter farce. A full report straight from Brazil is coming your way very soon.
“Couldn’t they just bring out Messi and Neymar and settle this with a keepy-uppy challenge?” asks Peter Oh.
It would have been fun. Like a non-stop unveiling.
I have had to turn on Forever Summer With Nigella to fill the time.
They have now cut to lots of Premier Sports idents. You might need a plan B here, lads. At least show an advert or two, as this mildly irritating. We could be watching a Brazilian goalkeeper do a stepover right now!
An update from the great man Mr Auclair on the situation in Guinea.
Hi Will - Moroccan team has, thank God, left Conakry aboard Royal Air Maroc flight. They're safe. Check @piers_e TL. Good luck on a quiet night at the office...
— Philippe Auclair (@PhilippeAuclair) September 5, 2021
I would love to know how the conversations are going at Premier Sports. “Do you we keep the training session going or cut to a repeat of Rayo Vallecano v Eibar from 2018?”
“Evening Will,” says Simon McMahon. “ Farcical scenes in Brazil. FIFA should throw both these teams out of the competition pronto, and, based on my reading of the FIFA rule book and UEFA coefficient, that means Scotland qualify automatically for the next three World Cups.”
Get some Scottish officials to storm the pitch of your next match and you can do what you want.
It really is the timing of the whole thing which annoys me. Everyone should abide by the rules but turning them into a pantomime is not the answer.
@Will_Unwin Since you apparently need to kill some time with some ill-thought-out opinions, mine is that there can be no way nobody in Brazil thought "hang on, those guys from the English league shouldn't be playing" before the game actually kicked off. Right?
— The Justin Horton Show (@ejhchess) September 5, 2021
There or thereabouts.
@Will_Unwin is it still 3-1 to the bibs? 😂
— Adam (@spudam) September 5, 2021
Kári Tulinius emails: “This is turning out be quite a cursed day for internationals. Guinea-Morocco was called off because of a coup attempt in Guinea’s capital Conakry. The Moroccan national team had already arrived and haven’t been able to leave.”
I did see this earlier. I think the Moroccans were stuck in their hotel waiting to leave.
This is better than Messi, right?
Goalkeepers are made different in Brazil! 🇧🇷😂
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) September 5, 2021
Playing at centre back in their impromptu training session, Atlético Mineiro's Everson has smashed one in from distance! 💥 pic.twitter.com/HA2SqqwhSu
“Is there VAR (at the training session)? asks Thomas Krantz.
Judging by the amount of offsides, no.
I’ve been told to drag this out, so ... the training session is continuing at a snail’s pace. It is basically 10 v 10 or something on half of the pitch. I believe they are playing ‘two touch’.
The commentator has gone home after doing a fine job. I should know who he is but I can’t remember his name. Kudos to him.
Updated
The Brazilian goalkeeper has just rifled in a goal and is celebrating in front of the fans. What a training session.
So now I am watching a live feed of a training session on a Sunday night. What a life I have made for myself.
On the upside, the Brazilian training session involves one of the goalkeepers playing in defence, so this could be fun.
Brazil v Argentina is abandoned
The match has, unsurprisingly, been called off.
Updated
Argentina big wig Claudio Tapia says: “Here you can’t talk about any lie because there is a health legislation under which all South American tournaments are played. The health authorities of each country approved a protocol that we have been complying with to the maximum.
“What was experienced today is regrettable for football, it is a very bad image. Four people came in to interrupt the match to make a notification and Conmebol asked the players to go to the locker room.”
Scaloni saying there no one prior to the match said they could not use their Premier League players, which makes the Brazilian authorities look bad. I await their response in due course.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni says: “It makes me very sad. I’m not looking for any culprits. Whether or not something happened, it was not the time to make that intervention.
“It should have been a party for everyone, to enjoy the best players in the world. I would like the people of Argentina to understand that as a coach I have to defend my players.
“At no time were we notified that they could not play the match. We wanted to play the game, the players from Brazil too.”
Gone through Google translate, obviously.
The Brazil training session has begun, so we are seeing some elite stretching around the centre circle.
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Some extra nets are being pushed onto the pitch, which implies the training session reports are very very true.
I think we are closing on an official confirmation that the match is off and I can open some wine. So some good news and bad.
The latest reports are that Argentina are about to leave the stadium on a bus and Brazil will have a training session on the pitch instead. This has gone terribly.
A World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina was halted just minutes after kick-off on Sunday after Brazilian health officials objected to the participation of three Argentine players they say broke quarantine rules.
Argentina walked off the pitch at the Corinthians arena after the officials entered the pitch to stop the game.
The players went to the dressing room, although the two coaches, along with Argentina captain Lionel Messi and Brazilian players, gathered at the side of the pitch a few moments later to discuss the stoppage.
It was not clear whether the game would continue.
The incident occurred just hours after Brazil*s health regulator Anvisa said four Argentine players must isolate and could not play in the match.
The three were among four Argentine players who play in England*s Premier League.
Under Brazilian rules visitors who have been in the UK in the 14 days before entering the country must quarantine for 14 days on arrival.
Brazil’s health regulator were tipped off the four did not state that information on their immigration forms and on Sunday said they confirmed the details given were “false”.
“Anvisa considers the situation a serious health risk and so has asked local health authorities to determine the immediate quarantine of the players, who are stopped from participating in any activity and should be prevented from remaining on Brazilian soil,” Anvisa said in a statement.
Updated
The Brazil players are passing a ball around and doing the lightest of warmups. Surely this is not going to restart. Maybe they are just amusing themselves and the smattering of fans inside the ground.
I have been handed the baby monitor at home, which has far more action on it than the Sao Paulo pitch.
The Brazil subs have taken their bibs off. Maybe they are going to entertain the crowd with an intra-squad friendly.
The Brazil players have a good chuckle about something or other, as they realise the futility of their day.
The Brazilian squad are in a huddle and I think we can accept this game is done for. Do these lads get a cap for this?
“As much as I disagree with most of what the Brazilian authorities have been doing, they are right in this,” says our Brazilian friend Mateus.
“When the Argentinian players based on England entered Brazil, they were required to quarantine, and were informed by authorities they should. When they went to the match, it became clear they had not complied with the quarantine rules, so the authorities went to the stadium to stop the match.
“As you mentioned before match, it was widely announced before the match, and the Brazilian authorities notify AFA. They thought they could get away with after the match had started.”
I do agree that the rules should be followed but the fact this match started before they tried to carry out their orders is silly.
Updated
Neymar is back on kick-ups duty. He once again does a couple and gives up. I know how you feel, mate.
Updated
At least everyone who signed up to Premier Sports in the UK to watch this has got their money’s worth, especially if they like bureaucracy.
Brazil are still on the pitch in full kit, which is charming, as there is little to no chance this is going to carry on.
Argentina trained at the stadium last night and no one acted but the authorities decided after kick-off today was the best time to deport some players. Come on now, lads, pull the other one.
Two Brazil players are kicking the ball to each other. This is exciting stuff. One has been megged!
“Is Dani Alves some sort of diplomat nowadays?” asks Thomas Krantz. “Or will he join Argentina if they need to swap out more than 3 players?”
He is a better diplomat than most Brazilian politicians.
Dani Alves has removed his shirt and handed it over to someone. I hope he gets a photographer’s bib from Messi in return. I would not hold out much hope of this match restarting.
Otamendi and some of the other Argentina players have emerged from the tunnel. Maybe Nicolas is going to put a reducer in on the jobsworths.
The traffic authorities in Sao Paulo are getting a coach to take the Argentina squad away from the stadium, supposedly. I think the game might be off therefore.
Aston Villa’s Emis Martinez and Buendia are at the centre of this. You did not get this sort of thing with Nigel Spink and Garry Parker.
“How long do you reckon this farce will continue Will?” asks Yash Gupta. “Plus a question just can’t escape my mind, how will the organisation explain an extra paycheck for this particular MBM?”
A long old time, by the looks of it. I will get paid, do not worry.
Where is Emi Buendia in all this? He did not make the squad but the authorities will still want him out.
Here is my post from 8pm BST: “I am pretty disappointed the Brazilian authorities did not arrest any of the Argentina players during the anthems.”
I think I might have caused this.
The match is suspended for a “failure to follow health regulations”. Messi and Dani Alves are still talking.
Neymar has decided to get a ball and is doing some kick-ups. This the football we came for. Oh, he’s done two and stopped.
Here is your farce beginning.
Video of World Cup qualifier being stopped in Brazil over English-based Argentina players’ quarantine status with health officials going on the pitch pic.twitter.com/vKFvcdIycG
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) September 5, 2021
The game has been stopped for 25 minutes, so even if it does start again, the players will need a warmup. We could be here for a long time.
Gabigol is sat on a ball next to the touchline, which is the closest we might get to more actual football today in Sao Paulo.
I like to think Messi is wearing a photographer’s bib as a disguise so no one will recognise the world’s most famous footballer.
Updated
The rest of the Brazil squad is still out on the pitch in full kit, which might mean there will be football again.
Messi and Dani Alves head down the tunnel together. Is there a resolution one way or another?
The idea that Argentina locked themselves in their dressing room after the threat of the match being called up, might explain all the niggly tackles in the opening moments.
“Just a reminder: Brazil was not allowed to call 9 players that act in England due to UK’s quarantine rules,” says André Silva. “The Argentinian players did not comply to Brazil’s (terrible) quarantine rules. Everyone should comply to the rules, don’t matter how bad they are.”
I accept all this but how was this match allowed to kick-off, that is my issue. Do not get me wrong, Argentina have been foolish for taking these players if rules do not allow.
Things are getting more animated, I assume as Neymar tries to explain about Brazilian immigration policy and what it means for the Argentina players.
“According to the Brazilian radio commentary, the authorities tried to negotiate with the Argentina officials this morning but they refused,” says John Hutchinson. “Apparently they locked themselves in the dressing room before coming onto the pitch...”
It still should not have been allowed to kick off.
If you like shouting through masks, there is plenty of that going on. A member of the Argentina backroom staff is joining in to speaking with the jobsworth in chief about the matter. We could be here a while in this holding pattern.
Messi is having a nice chat with Dani Alves about it all, and they are having a good laugh. Messi has come back out with a photographer’s vest on. He is speaking with Neymar and hugging others. I suspect this will not resolve the matter.
Updated
There were a few tackles flying around early on, I do wonder if players knew the match might not last too long.
These does seem like a cynical publicity stunt from some smartarse at Brazil’s public health authorities. Either do it before the match or not at all.
What are the options for Argentina? They come back out and make three subs? They do not come out at all? They tell the authorities they will leave the country after the match?
Looking at the Brazil players, they will certainly not want this game to end because of this. They have stayed out on the pitch and have tried to have a work with the authorities but it has not worked thus far.
The Brazilian police have turned up. This will help, I am sure ...
Updated
The referee has gone off... this is not going well.
Has no one told these officials how badly Bolsonaro has dealt with the pandemic? Now they have decided to act for some reason or other.
The Brazil players are speaking to the authorities now, maybe they will hold some power over them. Who would say no to Neymar? This is utterly ludicrous. Why wait until kick-off?
10 mins: This could be farcical. The Argentina team have been waved into the dressing room. Could the game be done for?
Updated
8 mins: There are quite a few men in suits having a long chat about something. The pitch has almost been cleared of busybodies and jobsworths.
The commentator is speculating that Brazilian public authorities could be the ones pitchside aiming to remove the Argentine players who operate in the Premier League.
Updated
6 mins: Neymar thinks he is fouled by Romero but the very is having none of it, so the Brazilian takes matters into his own hands and pushes over the Argentine.
On the touchline, every man and his dog is kicking off about something or other and a man in a grey jacket has been told to leave. For some reason, play has completely halted, allowing the Argentines to run over and join in the touchline melee. I do not have a clue what is going on.
4 mins: Danilo flies forward from right back but De Paul trips him up in full flow. Moments later Militao is left in a heap after Romero slides in very late on his opponent. A feisty start.
Updated
2 mins: Lo Celso does get punished by one Brazilian authority as Gerson puts his studs on the Spurs midfielder’s ankle within 30 seconds. That’ll show him for breaking the rules.
Kick-off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
I am pretty disappointed the Brazilian authorities did not arrest any of the Argentina players during the anthems.
“What would the Messi v Neymar bank balance clash be called?” asks Gareth Frith. “El Graspico? La Looter? Primera Peso? Battle Real?”
Neymar has decent technique, it has to be said.
Between them Brazil and Argentina have won seven World Cups - five for the former and two for the latter. Not bad going, to be fair.
Brazil’s squad has taken a hit as their Premier League players have abided by the rules, meaning Ederson, Jesus et al are absent. It is a lovely day in the north-west, so they are not missing out on the sunshine, at least.
It is Messi v Neymar, which is exciting in a way, as they can compare bank balances and records. I wouldn’t fancy being a Ligue 1 defender this season, although Neymar has played around half of PSG’s domestic games since arriving, so there is that.
It really is very exciting to see Nicolas Otamendi playing for the first time in a while. We can do a sweepstake on when he first needlessly lunges in on someone.
Starting lineups
Brazil: Weverton; Danilo, Militão, Verisimo, Alex Sandro; Ribeiro, Casemiro, Gerson, Paqueta; Neymar, Gabigol
Argentina: Emiliano Martínez; Montiel, Romero, Otamendi, Acuña; Di María, De Paul, Paredes, Lo Celso; Messi and Lautaro Martínez
Updated
Paulo Biriani emails: “Brazil are well within their rights to ask for those four players to be withdrawn.
“It does beg the question why they were allowed into the country in the first place without anyone checking the relevant rules at the time.
“Mind games from Brazil perhaps?”
Mind games indeed ...
No one seems to have told Argentina who name three of their Premier League players in their starting XI.
Argentina: Emiliano Martínez; Montiel, Romero, Otamendi, Acuña; Di María, De Paul, Paredes, Lo Celso; Messi and Lautaro Martínez.
Brazil’s health regulator Anvisa sought the immediate isolation of four Argentine footballers on Sunday, hours before the Copa America champions were due to face Brazil in a World Cup qualifier in Sao Paulo.
Anvisa said the players should have quarantined on arrival because they had spent time in the United Kingdom over the previous 14 days.
Although it did not name the four, players with English Premier league clubs are Emiliano Buendia and Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa and Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero of Tottenham.
Reports are emerging that Brazil want the four Argentina players who represent Premier League clubs removed from the country, as people coming from the UK to the country are required to quarantine for 14 days.
Good evening
The match is mainly about revenge for Brazil after Argentina won the Copa America final earlier this summer. Both teams will make it to Qatar next winter unless they mess things up massively.
There is a subplot as Lionel Messi is currently one international goal behind Pele. One would equal the goalscoring record for a South America and two would see the Barcelona PSG forward surpass the Brazilian on home soil, which might irk a few.
Red tape/lists have ruled plenty of players out of this match, so it will be interesting to see how the replacements do in their absence. Not that these two countries are ever particularly short of talent eager to prove their worth.
Here’s a to cracker!
