An earthquake shook the Argentine national team this Sunday in the preview of the classic against Brazil in the framework of the South American Qualifiers Way to Qatar World Cup 2022. After getting a victory against Venezuela as a visitor, the team that leads Lionel scaloni moved to Brazil to fulfill its commitment to the whole Verdeamarelo, but a drawback arose since there were four players from the Albiceleste delegation who hours after arriving were investigated for an alleged breach of the COVID-19 protocols established by local authorities.
Less than three hours before the start of the duel, the National Health Surveillance Agency of Brazil (Anvisa) advised a mandatory quarantine for the players of the Argentine national team Emiliano Martínez, Giovani Lo Celso, Cristian Romero and Emiliano Buendía, coming from United Kingdom, and asked that they be prevented from staying in the country for violating immigration regulations related to the coronavirus pandemic. Anvisa denounced that these players lied in the affidavit they signed when entering Brazil. from Caracas, omitting that they had been in England for no less than 14 days.
Although FIFA and Conmebol endorsed the presence of the Argentine footballers in the match – and in fact three of them jumped onto the playing field as starters- Agents from the health agencies were present at the stadium and, once the match started, they forced the actions to be suspended. There were 6 minutes of play when the agents asked the Argentines to leave the field and They unleashed a scandal in the Neo Química Arena stadium.
According to sources consulted by Infobae in the previous duel, from the AFA they assured from the beginning that the situation of the protagonists “was in order” So what were protected by the protocols established by Conmebol regarding the formation of the bubbles in the framework of the South American Qualifiers.
In the hours leading up to the duel, the news signal TN reported that the local police had arrived at the hotel where the Albiceleste delegation stayed to demand compliance with the protocols, a situation that would force the 4 soccer players to remain isolated for two weeks. Despite this, the players got on the bus and were part of the sporting feat.
The Police plan, as revealed by the Brazilian site UOLIt was for Martínez, Lo Celso, Romero and Buendía to be taken to the airport and to remain in an isolation area. There they were going to wait for the game to end and then join the rest of the delegation and leave for Buenos Aires. Thus, the four professionals who are active in the English Premier League, accused of lying in their declaration of entry to Brazil, they were going to be prevented from playing the South American superclassic. But, with the endorsement of FIFA and Conmebol, Martínez, Lo Celso, Romero and Buendía got on the bus with the rest of their teammates to play the duel.
The truth is that the Brazilian health authorities, after verifying the false information provided by footballers, they had communicated the fact to the Federal Police so that measures are taken immediately in the corresponding field, which implied the opening of a criminal investigation for the violation of article 11 of Law 6437. Martínez, Lo Celso, Romero and Buendía entered Brazil last Friday with the Argentine delegation from Venezuela, where they had arrived days before from the United Kingdom. Kingdom, your current place of residence. The Argentine players reportedly stated that they did not pass through England in the last two weeks, which was denied by Brazilian officials after consulting their respective passports. It was there that the problem arose that would finally have a happy ending for Argentina.
It should be noted that Brazil lost 11 players from its original list as a result of the obstacles that European clubs interposed due to the quarantines that their respective governments would impose on footballers for traveling to South America. These weighty names are: Alisson, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Ederson, Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Thiago silva (Chelsea), Fred (Manchester United), Richarlison (Everton), Raphinha (Leeds), Malcom and Claudinho (Zenit).
The official statement
Faced with the information related to four Argentine players entering Brazil in breach of the country’s health regulations, by allegedly declaring false information in an official form of the Brazilian health authority, Anvisa met with representatives of the Ministry of Health and the Coordination of Disease Control from the São Paulo State Department of Health this Saturday (4/9).
After a meeting with the health authorities, it was confirmed, after consulting the passports of the four players involved, that the athletes did not comply with the norm for the entry of travelers on Brazilian soil, established in Interministerial Ordinance No. 655, of 2021, which establishes that foreign travelers who have passed through the United Kingdom, South Africa, Northern Ireland and India in the last 14 days, cannot enter Brazil.
The players in question stated that they have not passed through any of the 4 countries with restrictions in the last 14 days. The travelers arrived in Brazil by plane from Caracas / Venezuela to Guarulhos. However, unofficial news reached Anvisa reporting alleged false statements made by said travelers.
Upon the news, Anvisa immediately notified the National Health Surveillance Strategic Information Center (CIEVS / MS), which coordinates the CIEVS network, responsible for epidemiological research with the state of São Paulo and the municipality of Guarulhos, so that the if investigated and traced.
When verifying that the information provided by the travelers was false, Anvisa clarifies that it has already communicated the fact to the Federal Police, so that measures are taken immediately within the scope of the police authority.
There is a notorious breach of Interministerial Ordinance No. 655/2021 and Brazilian immigration control regulations.
Anvisa considers that the situation is a serious health risk, so it advised the local health authorities to determine the immediate quarantine of the players, who cannot participate in any activity and must be prevented from remaining in Brazilian territory, in accordance with art. 11, of Federal Law No. 6437/77.
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