Ahead of Argentina’s World Cup qualifier victory against arch-rivals Brazil, a mass brawl broke out in the stands of the Maracanã Stadium, with shocking scenes between fans and police.
The World Cup winners secured a narrow 1-0 win over old rivals Brazil at the infamous Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Tuesday evening, but the blockbuster clash was marred before it even began.
Before the game, rival fans began fighting with each other during the Brazilian national anthem before clashes broke out with police, resulting in kick-off being delayed for half an hour.
It’s unclear what sparked the incident, but rival fans turned on each other, some even ripping seats off the stands and hurling them at each other.
Swarms of Rio de Janeiro police quickly intervened but struggled to contain the melee before surprisingly using batons on the arguing fans.
A mass brawl broke out in the stands of the Maracana Stadium before Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Argentina
Supporters of the rivals began fighting with each other before clashes with Brazilian police
Lionel Messi led the Argentine players off the pitch, kick-off was delayed due to the violence
The reigning world champion initially seemed to refuse to return to the field
Pieces of seats flew around and hit some spectators behind one of the goals. At least one fan left the stadium bleeding from the head, while video of the scenes showed a supporter bleeding profusely while lying on a stretcher on the ground.
Some players from Brazil and Argentina approached the stands to calm the fans.
However, a handful of them only added fuel to the fire as Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez jumped to the stands and appeared to try to grab a baton out of a police officer’s hand before being dragged away from the scene by his teammates.
Injured Argentina and Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez commented on Instagram: “It’s a shame to see what the Brazilian police are doing!” So how can this be possible? How much longer do we have to see these scenes?! It’s always the same [in Brazil].’
After the game, Lionel Messi launched a scathing attack on Brazilian police, saying: “We’ve seen how it’s done.” [police] met the people, this already happened in the final of the Libertadores. They were more focused on that than the game.’
The Ballon d’Or winner was referring to the scenes at the Maracana before Fluminense’s victory over Boca Juniors this year.
“We went to the locker room because that was the best way to calm everything down, a tragedy could have happened,” he added
Amid the tumult, Messi eventually led his Albiceleste teammates back to the dressing rooms.
Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez jumped to the stands and tried to grab a baton
Pieces of seats flew around and hit some spectators behind one of the goals
Some Brazilian fans climbed over the railing to escape the violence in the stands
Some fans were seen bleeding from the head and at least one left the stadium
Other supporters at the Maracana were seen crying as the violence subsided
A mother is seen sheltering her young children as they flee the chaotic scenes
The reigning world champions initially appeared to refuse to return to the pitch for kick-off, but CONMEBOL gave them 15 minutes to enter the pitch.
Argentina told its Brazilian rival that it would not return to the pitch until the situation calmed down.
After 22 minutes, they finally returned to the locker room and warmed up for another three minutes before the game finally began.
From then on, the tension spread to the pitch as Lionel Messi and Rodrygo exchanged a few words.
In the first half of the game there were a whopping 22 fouls (16 for Brazil, six for Argentina) and three yellow cards (all against Brazil).
Nicolas Otamendi finally scored the only goal of the game in the 63rd minute.
After emerging victorious from the heated display, Messi and Co. made their way back to the group of away fans caught up in the earlier fracas of the evening.
The Argentines celebrated their victory with their fans, which marked Brazil’s first World Cup qualifying defeat on home soil in their history.
Earlier, some fans climbed over the railing to escape the violence in the stands, while mothers were seen harboring young children.
Other fans cried after the violent scenes were finally quelled and were clearly shaken as they waited to see their teams in action.
As the game began, dozens of police surrounded the Argentina fans as they cheered, and even more security guards confronted them on the field. Police officers gathered around the area, which can hold about 3,000 fans
The Albiceleste players approached the stands and tried to calm the fans
The police baton charge caught the attention of Argentines as they lined up
Lionel Messi and Rodrygo exchanged words as play resumed at the Maracana
The teams committed a total of 22 fouls in the first half (16 for Brazil, six for Argentina).
Argentina’s striker Julian Alvarez (center) fights for the ball with Brazil’s defender Gabriel Magalhaes (second) and defender Carlos Augusto (right).
All 69,000 tickets for the game in Rio de Janeiro have been sold. Brazil’s fans, who jeered and applauded Messi before the brawl began, chanted against him as he returned to the pitch.
Argentina now lead the 10-team South American qualifying group with 15 points from six games. Uruguay is in second place with 13 points, while Colombia has 12 and Venezuela has nine.
The defeat leaves Brazil surprisingly in sixth place with just seven points, putting them in a risky position.
The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada will feature 48 teams, meaning the top six teams from South America will participate directly. The seventh-placed team can secure a place in an intercontinental playoff.