The game suspended almost a year ago between Argentina and Brazil for the World Cup qualifiers will not be played again, the soccer federations of both countries said on Tuesday.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) said in a statement that together with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) they have accepted their respective responsibilities for the events that led to the suspension of the match, “as verified by the judicial bodies of FIFA” and “must assume the corresponding sanction”.
He added that the Argentine team will schedule a friendly preparation match in September with a view to the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The duel of the South American qualifiers was suspended on September 5, 2021 when barely six minutes had elapsed. Brazilian health officials entered the Sao Paulo field to remove four Argentine players who allegedly failed to comply with coronavirus quarantine requirements.
FIFA sanctioned the federations of both countries with fines and ordered that the match be resumed. The CBF and the AFA took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
According to the statement, FIFA fined the AFA 150,000 Swiss francs ($157,000), although half of the amount was suspended for a two-year trial period.
Half of the fine to be paid (25% of the total fine) will be donated directly by AFA to the World Health Organization, in support of its efforts to combat COVID-19.
The coaches of both teams had expressed reluctance about playing an official match just two months before the World Cup, fearing losing players due to bookings or injuries.
Brazil (45 points) and Argentina (39) qualified for Qatar undefeated, leading the South American qualifiers.
In Qatar, Argentina was in Group C along with Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia. Brazil is in Group G with Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon.