In the wake of the troubling events in Rio de Janeiro, football bodies voiced their position on the matter.
On the night of November 21, the Maracana hosted a clash filled with emotion as Argentina defeated Brazil 1-0 in a South American World Cup qualifying match, ending a remarkable home streak. Yet the atmosphere beforehand included moments of heavy-handed police action that cast a long shadow over the spectacle.
As the teams took the field, Brazilian police targeted Argentine supporters occupying sections of the stands, using batons in confrontations that escalated into a large confrontation. The disturbance was so intense that players themselves stepped onto the field to help calm tensions, then returned to the locker rooms while security measures were reinforced to allow the celebration to proceed in peace.
After the final whistle, several players spoke out against the police actions, with voices like Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi, and Rodrigo De Paul calling for accountability and promising that such incidents must not recur. The consensus was clear: safeguarding fans, players, and staff is essential for any future match of this magnitude.
On Wednesday morning, Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, shared remarks on his official social channels. A central message urged that every player, supporter, staff member, and manager deserve safety to participate in football, and he called on authorities to ensure this principle is upheld across the board.
Concurrently, CONMEBOL issued a formal statement condemning the violence and calling for accountability, while reaffirming that the governance and sanction processes for World Cup qualifying are under FIFA’s exclusive remit. The document stresses that CONMEBOL is not the organizer of World Cup qualifiers and notes that rule-setting, investigations, and potential sanctions fall to FIFA.
THE FULL DECLARATION OF CONMEBOL
In response to the events during the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, CONMEBOL sought to clarify its stance for the public record. The federation condemned all forms of violence and affirmed its readiness to cooperate in efforts aimed at eradicating violence, racism, xenophobia, and discrimination from football. The organization highlighted its ongoing work to combat bigotry and violence across the sport and expressed openness to collaborate on initiatives designed to create safer environments for fans and participants alike.
It also reiterated that it is not the organizer of the World Cup qualifiers. The development of qualifying tournament rules, the initiation of investigations, and the imposition of sanctions remain the responsibility of FIFA, as stated in the formal communication from CONMEBOL.
MESSAGE FROM GIANNI INFANTINO
From Infantino came a firm stand against violence in football. He underscored that violence, whether on or off the field, has no place in the sport. He described incidents like the one at the Maracana during the Brazil vs Argentina World Cup qualifier as unacceptable for football and society at large. The call was for safety and protection for everyone involved in the game, with a plea to authorities to ensure these protections are guaranteed in every venue and event.
Note: This coverage reflects the official statements and public reactions reported by Goal and subsequent formal communiqués from FIFA and CONMEBOL. [Goal attribution]