Argentina vs Brazil World Cup qualifier rocked by ugly crowd scenes

A blockbuster showdown between two football powerhouse nations was brought to a standstill as fans in the stands clashed with police.

There were ugly scenes before the game.

The kick-off of Brazil’s World Cup qualifying clash with Argentina was delayed by around 30 minutes on Wednesday after clashes amongst rival supporters in the Maracana Stadium.

The much-anticipated blockbuster between South American football’s two superpowers was due to kick off at 9.30pm local time on Tuesday but was held up after disturbances in the stands.

Brazilian police could be seen beating back Argentina fans at one end of the ground with batons.

Argentina’s players, led by captain Lionel Messi, left the field and returned to the players’ tunnel as police fought to quell the crowd trouble.

“We’re not playing, we’re leaving,” Messi appeared to say as he left the pitch with his team-mates.

Lisandro Martinez, maenwhile, later posted on social media: “It’s a shame to see what Brazilian police are doing! So how can that be possible? How long we have to see these scenes?! It’s always the same [in Brazil]”.

“It’s a shame to see what Brazilian police are doing! So how can that be possible? How long we have to see these scenes?! It’s always the same [in Brazil]”. 🇦🇷

Lisandro Martínez posting about tonight scenes. pic.twitter.com/BqLYn1qWZ9

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 22, 2023

Fans of Argentina clash with Brazilian police before the start of the match. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

A fan is carried on a stretcher with injuries. (Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images)

Fans of Argentina clash with Brazilian police. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

The ugly scenes marred the contest. (Photo by DANIEL RAMALHO / AFP)

The game eventually got underway with Argentina emerging victorious after securing the 1-0 victory.

A 63rd-minute header from veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi secured victory for Argentina as the world champions bounced back from last week’s defeat to Uruguay to beat their bitter South American rivals.

The win at Rio’s iconic Maracana Stadium leaves Argentina on top of the South American qualifying standings with 15 points from six games.

Brazil’s third defeat of qualifying, meanwhile, leaves the five-time world champions in sixth place with seven points from six games.

Tempers had flared in the stands at the Maracana moments before kick-off, with Brazilian police seen using batons to drive back a block of Argentine fans at one end of the ground.

Several Argentina players went towards the disturbances in an apparent attempt to plead for calm, with goalkeeper Emi Martinez attempting to jump into the seating area at one stage to confront a baton-wielding Brazilian police officer.

Originally published as Argentina vs Brazil World Cup qualifier rocked by ugly crowd scenes