{"id":122133,"date":"2023-11-22T11:21:44","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T11:21:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/11\/22\/there-could-have-been-a-tragedy-messi\/"},"modified":"2023-11-22T11:21:44","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T11:21:44","slug":"there-could-have-been-a-tragedy-messi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/11\/22\/there-could-have-been-a-tragedy-messi\/","title":{"rendered":"There could have been a tragedy – Messi"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"
The Argentina players went over to the stands to try to calm the situation down before returning to the dressing room
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Lionel Messi believes there \u201ccould have been a tragedy\u201d during the crowd trouble that delayed Argentina\u2019s World Cup qualifier against Brazil.<\/p>\n

Police charged at away fans following scuffles before kick-off in a section of the Maracana Stadium that Messi says contained players\u2019 friends and family.<\/p>\n

Argentina captain Messi and his players went over to try and calm the situation before returning to the dressing room.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was bad because we saw how they were beating people,\u201d said Messi, 36.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe police, as happened in the Libertadores final, were once again repressing the people with nightsticks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe went to the locker room because it was the best way to calm everything down, it could have ended in tragedy.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think about the families, the people who are there, who don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on and we were more concerned about that than playing a match that, at that point, was of secondary importance.\u201d<\/p>\n

What happened before Brazil v Argentina?<\/h3>\n
\"Argentina
Argentina\u2019s players noticed trouble had broken out shortly after the national anthems<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u2019s supporters, some using batons.<\/p>\n

Some supporters ripped out seats and threw them at police in response, while others spilled out onto the pitch to escape the trouble.<\/p>\n

The Argentina players and some members of the Brazil team walked over to try to calm the situation, with Aston Villa\u2019s Emiliano Martinez trying to grab a baton out of a police officer\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n

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 a 30-minute delay.<\/p>\n

\"Lionel
Messi and his players attempted to calm the situation before returning to the dressing room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Argentina
Argentina goalkeeper Martinez attempted to grab a baton out of a police officer\u2019s hand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trouble unfolded a fortnight after trouble broke out between fans of Brazilian side Fluminense and Argentine club Boca Juniors before the Copa Libertadores final \u2013 the South American equivalent of the Champions League final \u2013 which was also staged at the Maracana.<\/p>\n

Brazil captain Marquinhos, who joined the Argentina players on the pitch calling for calm in the stands, added: \u201cWe were worried about the families, women and children that we were seeing in panic up there in the stands.<\/p>\n

\u201cDown on the pitch it was hard for us to understand what was going on, it was a very scary situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

World champions Argentina won 1-0 thanks to a goal from former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi.<\/p>\n

Newcastle midfielder Joelinton was sent off for Brazil, who lost a home World Cup qualifier for the first time.<\/p>\n

The five-time World Cup winners have now lost three successive qualifiers to sit sixth in the South American qualifying table, eight points behind leaders Argentina and in the last spot that guarantees a place at the 2026 finals.<\/p>\n

Despite the historic victory, after the game Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni \u2013 who led his country to World Cup glory in Qatar 12 months ago \u2013 said he was considering resigning.<\/p>\n

\u201cArgentina needs a coach who has all the energy possible and who is well,\u201d said the 45-year-old, who took charge in 2018. \u201cI need to stop the ball and start thinking, I have a lot of things to think about during this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n