RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The highly anticipated World Cup qualifier between South American giants Argentina and Brazil was marred by violence and chaos, as a mass brawl erupted in the stands of the iconic Maracana stadium just before kickoff. The incident forced a 30-minute delay to the match, which Argentina eventually won 1-0.
The trouble began as rival supporters began exchanging blows during the Brazilian national anthem. The melee quickly escalated, with fans tearing down seats and throwing them at each other. Rio de Janeiro police attempted to intervene, but their efforts to control the crowd were met with resistance.
Shocking scenes emerged of police officers using batons on unruly fans, as parts of seats flew through the air and struck spectators. At least one fan was seen leaving the stadium bleeding from his head, while another video showed a supporter profusely bleeding while lying on a gurney.
The violence cast a shadow over the highly anticipated match, with some players from both teams expressing their dismay at the scenes. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was seen trying to grab a baton from a police officer, while injured Manchester United center back Lisandro Martinez took to social media to condemn the actions of the Brazilian police.
Amid the chaos, Argentina’s players initially refused to return to the field, insisting that the situation be calmed before they would resume the match. CONMEBOL officials eventually intervened, giving Argentina a 15-minute ultimatum to take the field.
After a tense standoff, Argentina eventually returned to the dressing room and emerged 22 minutes later to warm up for another three minutes before the game finally started. Despite the disruption, Argentina went on to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over their arch-rivals, thanks to a solitary strike from Lautaro Martinez.
However, the ugly scenes that preceded the match will undoubtedly overshadow Argentina’s victory. The violence highlights the ongoing issue of fan hooliganism in South American football, and raises questions about the security measures in place at major sporting events.
