Brazilian police and soccer authorities traded blame Wednesday after a brawl broke out forward of Brazil’s match in opposition to arch-rivals Argentina, leaving a number of injured in what followers referred to as a “tragedy foretold.” Brazil’s soccer fan golf equipment affiliation, ANATORG, mentioned authorities authorities and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) have been “negligent” in seating rival followers subsequent to one another at Tuesday’s epic conflict in Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium, with no obstacles separating them.

The 2026 World Cup qualifier, which Argentina received 1-0, needed to be delayed for round half-hour when rival followers began throwing punches earlier than kickoff. Police fought again the melee with batons, leaving some followers with bloodied faces and different accidents.

“The negligence and incompetence of the CBF and security officials resulted in the brawl,” mentioned ANATORG, which had issued a press release Monday warning of the danger of violence, given the combined seating plan.

“This was a tragedy foretold,” it mentioned.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the meantime mentioned there’s “absolutely no place for violence in football.”

“Players, fans, staff and officials have to be safe and secure,” he wrote on Instagram.

The iconic stadium descended into chaos Tuesday night time, as gamers tried in useless to get followers to cease the fray. Argentina captain Lionel Messi led his staff again to the dressing room, returning solely after the violence had been quelled.

Rio state police referred to as the occasions “deplorable,” and accused the CBF of assembly with its commanders to debate safety plans solely after tickets had offered out with a combined seating plan.

“The CBF decided to release tickets for sale without country quotas and, worse, without delimiting separate seating areas,” it mentioned in a press release.

The CBF rejected accusations of negligence.

“State police and other authorities were aware of the plan to use mixed seating, which is the standard for matches organized by FIFA,” it mentioned in a press release.

“The organization and planning of the match were carefully and strategically carried out by the CBF, together with the authorities, especially the police.”

After the match, Messi criticized the police “repression” of followers, posting on social media: “This can’t be tolerated! It’s craziness, it needs to stop.”

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