Fines, bans from FIFA: Brazil, Argentina told to play again

AP , Monday 14 Feb 2022

FIFA handed out fines and suspensions on Monday while ordering Brazil and Argentina to replay the World Cup qualifier that was abandoned after health officials stormed the field to question the quarantine status of players.

Brazil and Argentina s players talk as the soccer game is interrupted by health authorities during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Neo Quimica Arena stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Sept.5, 2021. AP

Four of Argentina's English Premier League players were accused of flouting quarantine requirements in Sao Paulo in September and of falsifying Brazilian coronavirus declarations by not stating they had been in red-listed Britain in the previous 14 days.

Emiliano Buendia, Emiliano Martinez, Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero will now serve two-match bans in FIFA fixtures after ``not complying with the FIFA Return to Football International Match Protocol,`` the world governing body said.

FIFA ordered the Brazilian Football Association to pay a fine of 550,000 Swiss francs (about $600,000) for ``infringements related to order and security'', and over the abandonment.

The Argentinian Football Association was fined 250,000 Swiss francs ($270,000) for failing to ``comply with its obligations in relation to order and security, the preparation of and its participation in the match``, and the abandonment.

FIFA has not set a date or location for the game to be played again. Brazil and Argentina have already sealed a place at the World Cup in Qatar in November ahead of the scheduled conclusion of CONMEBOL qualifying in March, when both teams have another two games to play.