Brazil-Argentina World Cup qualifier suspended over COVID protocols breach

The Brazil World Cup qualifier against Argentina was dramatically suspended shortly after the kick-off on Sunday as controversy over COVID-19 protocols erupted.

Amid gruesome scenes at Sao Paulo's Neo Quimica Arena, the match between the two giants of South American football was stopped when a group of Brazilian public health officials came on the field, causing a melee with the team personnel and players.

The Argentine players ran off the field into the changing rooms as the disturbance erupted. Argentine captain Lionel Messi later emerged from the tunnel without his team shirt on as the confusion flew through the stadium.

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said in a statement that the game was "suspended" but did not say whether the match will continue or be replayed.

"By referee's decision, the match organized by FIFA between Brazil and Argentina will be suspended for World Cup qualification," it said.

"The referee and the match commissioner will submit a report to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which will determine the steps. These procedures are strictly in line with current regulations."

The impressive intervention came just hours after Brazilian health authorities said four players in the Argentine squad based in England should be placed in "direct quarantine" due to COVID-19 protocols.

According to the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), Premier League players Giovani Lo Celso, Emiliano Martinez, Emiliano Buendia and Cristian Romero provided "false information" at their entry into Brazil.

Romero, Lo Celso and Martinez were all in Argentina's starting line-up, which started the game on Sunday - triggering the event on the field of officials wearing ANVISA shirts.

The four Premier League players - Lo Celso and Romero play for Tottenham, while Martinez and Buendia play for Aston Villa - were accused of not revealing that they had spent time in the UK in the 14 days before their arrival.

"We came to this point because everything that led ANVISA, from the first moment, was not fulfilled," said ANVISA Director Antonio Barra Torres on Brazilian television.

"(The four players) were advised to remain isolated while awaiting deportation, but they did not respect that. They entered the stadium and entered the field, in a series of breaches," the official added.