SAO PAULO (AP) – The suspended World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina will not be played, the two countries’ soccer governing bodies said Tuesday after reaching an agreement with FIFA to cancel the match.
The two teams agreed to pay a fine for not playing in the qualifiers, which were halted shortly after the start last September when Brazilian health officials entered the field saying four Argentine players had breached COVID-19 protocols. FIFA wanted the game to be played next month, even though it had been essentially rendered meaningless after both Brazil and Argentina qualified for the World Cup in Qatar despite playing one fewer game than other southern countries. americans
FIFA initially fined the football bodies of both countries and demanded that the match be played. The Brazilian confederation and the Argentine federation took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where the three parties agreed to the settlement to cancel the match.
Brazil coach Tite and his Argentinian counterpart Lionel Scaloni had argued that the risks of injury and suspensions were too high for the game to be played ahead of the tournament in Qatar.
The decision leaves both teams free to schedule September friendlies against different rivals.
In Qatar, Brazil are in Group G with Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon. Argentina is in Group C with Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia.
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