Tuesday’s match at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium, won 1-0 by world champions Argentina, was delayed for around half an hour after rival fans began fighting before kickoff. sending.
FIFA confirmed on Friday that disciplinary proceedings had been opened against the football federations of Brazil and Argentina after a brawl delayed the start of a 2026 World Cup qualifying match.
Tuesday’s match at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium, won 1-0 by world champions Argentina, was delayed for around half an hour after rival fans began fighting before kickoff. sending.
The iconic stadium descended into chaos, as players tried in vain to convince fans to stop the melee. Argentina captain Lionel Messi took his team back to the locker room, where he only returned once the violence had been suppressed.
Police responded with batons, leaving some fans with bloodied faces and other injuries.
“FIFA can confirm that its disciplinary committee has opened proceedings against the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) and the Argentine Football Federation (AFA),” world football’s governing body said in a statement.
Brazil faces sanctions for “potential violations of Article 17” of FIFA’s disciplinary code, which regulates order and security at matches.
Argentina, who inflicted the Brazilians’ first home defeat in qualifying for a World Cup, faces sanctions for “crowd disturbances” and “delayed kick-off”.
Both teams risk fines as well as international home matches with partial or total closure of their stadium, the two most common sanctions.
Argentina leads the South American World Cup qualifying table with 15 points from six matches.
Brazil’s third defeat in qualifying leaves the five-time world champion in sixth place with seven points from six matches.
