Today, the International Football Federation (FIFA) rejected the appeals of Brazil and Argentina, so those two national teams will have to play a match in the qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar.
The match between Brazil and Argentina, played on September 5 in Sao Paulo, was stopped after seven minutes, after Brazilian health authorities and the federal police stormed the field due to a violation of protocol related to the coronavirus of four Argentine football players.
Four Argentinian Premier League internationals Emiliano Buendia, Emiliano Martinez, Giovanni Lo Celso and Cristian Romero were suspended for two matches each by FIFA for falsifying information related to the coronavirus in order to enter Brazil from Great Britain, which at the time was on the red list.
Both national teams qualified for the World Cup as the two best placed teams from the South American qualifiers even without that game, and last month they played to a draw.
With FIFA's decision, Brazil and Argentina will play a non-competitive match, most likely in September.
Two Federations can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
With a new decision, the world house of football reduced the fines for Brazil and Argentina. Brazil will pay 250.000 Swiss francs instead of 550.000 for breach of law and order and Argentina will pay 100.000 instead of 250.000 Swiss francs for breach of law and order, preparation and participation in the match.
Also, both associations will pay another 50.000 Swiss francs each due to the cancellation of the match.
According to an earlier agreement, Brazil and Argentina will play a friendly match on June 11 in Melbourne.
At the World Cup in Qatar, Brazil will play against Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon, and Argentina against Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia.
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