Lionel Messi has expressed deep concern over the potential for tragedy during the crowd trouble that disrupted the World Cup qualifier between Argentina and Brazil.
Police intervention led to disturbances among away fans at the Maracana Stadium, prompting Argentina’s players, including Messi, to intervene in an effort to calm the situation.
Messi, who serves as the captain of the Argentine national team, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, “It was bad because we saw how they were beating people.”
The police’s use of force in managing the crowd reminded Messi of a similar incident during the Libertadores final.
The disruption occurred before the kick-off in a section of the stadium that reportedly housed players’ friends and family.
Concerned about the escalating tensions and the safety of those present, Messi and his teammates decided to go to the locker room to de-escalate the situation. Messi emphasized that the potential for tragedy was more pressing than the football match at that moment.
Reflecting on the incident, Messi said, “You think about the families, the people who are there, who don’t know what’s going on, and we were more concerned about that than playing a match that, at that point, was of secondary importance.”
The trouble began when rival fans clashed in a stand behind one of the goals at the stadium in Rio de Janeiro during the national anthems, prompting police to charge at Argentina’s supporters, some using batons.
Some supporters ripped out seats and threw them at police in response, while others spilled out onto the pitch to escape the trouble.
The Argentina players and some members of the Brazil team walked over to try to calm the situation, with Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez trying to grab a baton out of a police officer’s hand.
The players eventually left the field before returning after police had gathered the Argentina fans into a separate section of the stand and the game was able to begin after 30-minute delay.
The disruption underscored the challenges associated with ensuring the safety and security of fans in high-profile sporting events. -BBC
