Baton-wielding Brazilian cops charge Argentina fans as players try to intervene
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Argentina’s historic victory over Brazil was overshadowed by violence as baton-wielding police clashed with fans.
The World Cup qualifier was held up by half an hour after trouble flared in the stands at the Maracana in Rio during the national anthems. Video and pictures have emerged of Brazilian police charging Argentina fans with batons.
The appalling scenes led to at least one supporter suffering a head injury. He was seen on a stretcher with blood pouring from a wound. Both children and adults were spotted in tears after watching the distressing scenes unfold.
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Concerned Argentina players, including skipper Lionel Messi, went over to the section to plead for calm. They eventually returned to dressing rooms for 10 minutes before re-emerging so the South American World Cup qualifier could finally get underway.
And it was world champions Argentina who were celebrating again, inflicting a third successive defeat and a first-ever home loss on Brazil in World Cup qualifying. Former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi scored the only goal, a towering header after 63 minutes.
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A bad night for Brazil got even worse when Joelinton was sent off in bizarre circumstances as he tried to fend off Rodrigo De Paul, who had been holding the Newcastle midfielder.
Messi addressed the crowd trouble after the game, saying: “Obviously, at the beginning it was bad because we saw how they were beating people. You think about the family, the people who are there, who don’t know what’s going on and we are more concerned about that than playing a match. At that point the match was secondary.
“After that, winning this game like this I think is one of the most important wins that this group has achieved. It is something very nice to be able to win here in Brazil, after how strong they have been at home throughout their history. The truth is that this group continues to achieve historic things, once again."
The result left Argentina two points clear at the top of the South American table with five wins from six games. Brazil, meanwhile, are facing a battle to qualify for the 2026 World Cup as they languish down in sixth spot.
- Lionel Messi
- World Cup
- FIFA
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