Argentina captain Leo Messi says the players were more concern about their families at the stands than the team’s 1-0 win over Brazil in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at the Maracana Stadium.
Recall that fans started fighting during the national anthems, which led to Brazilian police entering the away section and attacking Argentina fans.
Police were seen punching supporters some fans were seen with bloodied faces as they were taken from the stadium on a stretcher.
Messi led a group of players to the stands in an attempt to calm tempers, before leaving the pitch and returning to the dressing room.
Argentina won 1-0 with a 63rd-minute winner from defender Nicolas Otamendi.
Reacting to the development in a chat with Tribal Football, Messi stated that the players were more concern on the safety of their families that the result.
“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 pitch side 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.”
