Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Brazilian fan seen taking selfie as Brazil police hit Argentine fans during crazy clash in Maracana stadium.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi accused the Brazilian police of brutality as the start of their World Cup qualifier against Brazil was delayed by half an hour after clashes between police and visiting fans at Maracana Stadium on Tuesday.
Brazilian and Argentinian fans started fighting behind one of the goals during the national anthems, prompting police to charge at the travelling contingent with night sticks drawn.
Some Argentina fans responded by ripping up and throwing seats at the officers as other fans panicked and came onto the pitch to escape the fighting.
Rio police said they had arrested eight people due to the brawl.
The world champions won 1-0 thanks to a Nicolas Otamendi header in the second-half and 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 history.
Messi’s squad celebrated for more than 10 minutes on the pitch after their win.
“It was bad because we saw how they were beating people … The police, as it already happened in the Libertadores final, were once again repressing the people with night sticks, there were players who had families over there,” Messi said in a pitchside television interview.
“We went to the locker room because it was the best way to calm everything down, it could have ended in tragedy.
“You think about the families, the people who are there, who don’t know what’s going on and we were more concerned about that than playing a match that, at that point, was of secondary importance.”
It was also Brazil’s first ever home loss in a World Cup qualifier and their third consecutive loss in the round-robin tournament. 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 World Cup.
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