Leo Messi on the brawl in the Argentina-Brazil game: ‘We saw they were hitting the people, they were more focused on that than the game’ | Football News
Argentina captain Lionel Messi had to guide his teammates back to the locker room when things became volatile at the Maracana Stadium during their game against Brazil.
The two sets of fans in the stand were involved in a fight that eventually led to the local police force stationed at the venue opening up baton charge on the away fans.
Brazilian police giving a baton to a Brazilian fan so he could attack Argentinians.
This is crazy. Disgrace. pic.twitter.com/01ppZmVdqt
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) November 22, 2023
“We saw how they were hitting the people, it already happened in the Libertadores final. They were more focused on that than on the game. We went to the locker room because it was the best way to calm everything down, a tragedy could have happened,” Messi said afterwards. “This group continues to achieve horic things.”
The heat of the rivalry was also visible on field with Messi involved in a verbal altercation with Rodrygo during the 1-0 win. Per TyC Sports, the Real Madrid and Brazilian winger called Messi and Co as cowards to which the Argentine skipper replied with, “We are the world champions, why are we cowards? Look at your mouth.”
Post match, the Argentine players were seen celebrating with their fans singing the chants, “A minute of silence to Brazil who’s dead.”Most Read
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Earlier, Defender Otamendi scored from a Giovani Lo Celso corner in the 63rd minute with Argentina’s only shot on target and Brazil’s misery was compounded when midfielder Joelinton was sent off for hitting Rodrigo de Paul in the face in the 82nd minute.
The world champions handed their fiercest rivals a third consecutive loss as Brazil came into the match having conceded back-to-back defeats in World Cup qualifiers for the first time in their hory.
It was also Brazil’s first ever home loss in a World Cup qualifier. Argentina top the standings on 15 points with Brazil eight points behind in sixth place, the last spot that guarantees a berth at the 2026 finals.
