Argentina fans clash with police Photo: CARL DE SOUZA
Argentina captain Lionel Messi accused the Brazilian police of brutality as the start of their World Cup qualifier against Brazil was delayed by half an hour after clashes between police and visiting fans at Maracana Stadium.
Brazilian and Argentinian fans started fighting behind one of the goals during the national anthems, prompting police to charge at the travelling contingent with night sticks drawn.
Some Argentina fans responded by ripping up and throwing seats at the officers as other fans panicked and came onto the pitch to escape the fighting.
One Argentina fan lay on the pitch with a bloodied face before being taken from the stadium on a stretcher.
The Argentina team, led by Messi, went over to the terraces to try to calm the situation before leaving the pitch and returning to the dressing room.
"It was bad because we saw how they were beating people ... The police, as it already happened in the Libertadores final, were once again repressing the people with night sticks, there were players who had families over there," Messi said in a pitchside television interview.
"We went to the locker room because it was the best way to calm everything down, it could have ended in tragedy.
"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."
Argentina's forward Lionel Messi (L) and midfielder Rodrigo De Paul (R) argue with Brazil's forward Rodrygo. Photo: CARL DE SOUZA
Brazil captain Marquinhos, who could be seen interacting with Messi and the Argentinian players as they tried to calm the situation, shared the concerns.
"We were worried about the families, women and children, that we were seeing in panic up there in the stands," Marquinhos told reporters.
"Down on the pitch it was hard for us to understand what was going on, it was a very scary situation."
There were violent clashes between fans of Argentina's Boca Juniors and Brazil's Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the Copa Libertadores final between the clubs this month.
The Argentina players eventually returned, after police corralled the visiting fans in a pen and the match started after a lengthy delay.
Argentina won 1-0 with a 63rd-minute headed winner from defender Nicolas Otamendi and celebrated the victory over their fiercest rivals in front of their fans at the same end of the ground where the trouble had occurred.
It was a third straight defeat for five-times World Cup winners Brazil, who had midfielder Joelinton sent off 18 minutes from time.
World Cup winner Scaloni contemplates walking away from Argentina job
Argentina's World Cup-winning manager Lionel Scaloni made the stunning admission that he was contemplating walking away from his position after his team achieved the rare feat of beating Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.
Scaloni's shocking pronouncement about his future came out of nowhere during his press conference at the Maracana Stadium, where Argentina had beaten their rivals to stay top of the South American qualifying standings for the 2026 World Cup.
"Argentina needs a coach who has all the energy possible and who is well ... I need to stop the ball and start thinking, I have a lot of things to think about during this time," Scaloni, who took no questions, said in his opening remarks.
"These players have given a lot to the coaching staff and I need to think a lot about what I'm going to do.
"It's not goodbye or anything, but I need to think because the bar is very high and it's complicated to keep going and it's complicated to keep winning.
"These guys are making it difficult, so I need to think about it for a while. I will talk to the FA president and the players afterwards."
The 45-year-old took over as manager in 2018 and led Argentina to the Copa America title in 2021 -- their first major trophy since the 1986 World Cup -- before the Albiceleste landed their third global title in Qatar last year.
His captain Lionel Messi retired from the international game in 2016 before returning to reassume the huge burden of expectation of success from a country where football has been likened to a religion.
"We are sure and hope that Scaloni will continue," Argentina defender Cristian Romero told reporters.
"Let's see now he will have time to think, he didn't say anything in the dressing room about it. We will try to convince him."
- Reuters