FIFA says Brazil and Argentina must play World Cup qualifier

ZURICH –

Brazil and Argentina have lost their appeals against FIFA on Monday. They will now play the World Cup qualifying match that was abandoned last season in Sao Paulo due to chaos on the field and rule violations.

Brazilian health officials arrived on the field to contest the quarantine status of some Argentina-based players, in one of the most strange scenes of the qualifying program for World Cup.

Both countries were the top two South American teams, meaning they qualified for the World Cup without having to play the abandoned game. They were part of the draw last month for final tournament, which will take place in Qatar between Nov. 21 and Dec. 18.

The latest FIFA ruling states that Brazil and Argentina will have to play their 18th qualifying match, which could be in September.

This could be the second meeting between the rivals before going to Qatar.

The FIFA disciplinary ruling of February, which imposed fines and player suspensions as well as an order to replay the qualifier, has resulted in the agreement between the Brazilian and Argentina soccer federations to play a friendly match in Australia.

That “Superclasico” is scheduled for June 11 in Melbourne.

In an appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport, the two federations could again challenge FIFA to overturn its replay order.

FIFA reduced the fines for the two federations. Brazil now has been ordered to pay 250,000 Swiss francs (US$251,000) for “infringements related to order and security” at the game. Argentina has now been fined 100,000 Swiss francs (US$100,500) for “obligations in relation to the preparation of and its participation in the match.”

The game will be abandoned by both parties for 50,000 Swiss Francs ($50,250).

Four Premier League players from Argentina were accused of falsifying coronavirus entries to Brazil. They also failed to declare that they had been red-listed in Britain within the past 14 days.

Emiliano Buendia (Emily Buendia), Emiliano Martinez, Giovani Lo Celso, and Cristian Romero were all banned for two matches in FIFA-organized matches.

Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Argentina will all be competing at the World Cup. Brazil will take on Serbia, Cameroon and Switzerland.