“It Needs to End Now” – After Police Brutality, Lionel Messi Lashes Out at Brazil as Argentine Hands Brazil 1st WCQ Loss at Home

The last international game of the year for South American giants Brazil and Argentina ended with a lot of controversy. After a delayed start due to a rift between fans and the police, Argentina went on to win the game 1-0. But it looks like the dust hasn’t settled yet. Lionel Messi called out Brazil due to the issue and demanded a solution.

Argentina came to Brazil to prove they are the best in the world, second to none. But the off-field incidents were the biggest distraction to the game. As a result, even the usually silent Messi chose to express his concern about the incident.

Lionel Messi calls on Brazil to stop mistreating Argentinian fans

Notably, Argentina returned to the pitch after the initial protest of leaving the field. Things took a turn for the worse after fans witnessed officers interceding in the altercation between the two factions of fighting fans. Although Argentina won, Lionel Messi took to his Instagram to ask for this kind of treatment of fans to be stopped.

Messi wrote on Instagram, “This team continues to make history. Great victory in the Maracaná although it will be marked by the repression of the Argentinians once again in Brazil. This can’t be tolerated; it’s insane, and it needs to end now.”

Messi walked away with his teammates before the start of the game after speaking to the official on the issue. We saw the police officials using their sticks to beat the fans as the Maracaná turned out to be in turmoil even before the game started. In retaliation, the fans uprooted the chairs and used them to confront law enforcement.

They later took the rioting fans to a designated place to resume the game. The match, however, did not calm down as players were involved in a few on-field spats. Brazil’s Joellinton was also sent off in the 81st minute after getting into an altercation with Rodrigo De Paul. All the hassles finally led to the home side succumbing to the World Cup champions by drawing blanks on the scoresheet.

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Blow for Brazil at the Maracaná

The stadium in Rio de Janeiro is proving to be a lucky ground for Argentina. Brazil lost their final in the 2021 Copa America at the same venue. And today, it faced its first-ever World Cup qualifier defeat at home. The spat between players made it worse.

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Additionally, this is the first time it has lost a hat trick of matches in international soccer. Brazil and Argentina will meet again next year in the Copa America. This loss also means the Samba nation is placed 6th on the table and will need to pull their socks once the qualifiers resume.