After rejecting pleas from both national federations, FIFA ruled on Monday that the 2022 World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina will be replayed.
On September 5, seven minutes into the encounter between the South American powers in Sao Paulo, Brazilian health inspectors stormed the ground, suspending the game and causing a confrontation among team officials and players.
Four Argentine players playing for English teams at the time, according to Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), should have been placed in “urgent quarantine” for violating COVID-19 procedures.
In February, FIFA ordered a rematch and issued two-match suspensions to Tottenham’s Cristian Romero and then-teammate Giovani Lo Celso, as well as Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia.
The two national football federations were also fined by the world soccer governing body, forcing both to file appeals.
The fines of 50,000 Swiss francs ($50,342) levied on both as a result of the desertion were upheld by FIFA’s disciplinary commission.
The Brazilian FA’s 500,000 Swiss franc fine was lowered to 250,000 Swiss francs, while the Argentine FA’s initial sanction of 200,000 Swiss francs was halved.
Argentina’s football organization said it will “request today the justifications for both rulings” before taking its case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The two sides have already qualified for this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
