The 2022 World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina in Sao Paulo had to be suspended after chaotic scenes, with health officials storming on to the pitch minutes into the game to remove four English Premier League based players.
England-based quartet Emiliano Buendia, Emiliano Martinez, Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero had linked up with the Argentina squad for the international break, but had not undergone the mandatory quarantine period after entering Brazil.
The quartet had been in Brazil several days, thus the timing of the Brazil authorities’ intervention caused confusion and chaos, with Lionel Messi heard shouting: “We’ve been here for three days, we were waiting to play the match, why didn’t you come earlier?”
Tapia labelled the situation “regrettable for football”, while Scaloni simply said it was “sad”.
“The health authorities of each country approved a protocol that we have been complying with to the maximum,” Tapia said.
“What was experienced today is regrettable for football, it is a very bad image. Four people came in to interrupt the match to make a notification and CONMEBOL asked the players to go to the locker room.”
Scaloni added: “It makes me very sad. I’m not looking for any culprits. Whether or not something happened, it was not the time to make that intervention.
“At no time were we notified that they could not play the match. We wanted to play the game, the players from Brazil too.”