Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, has criticized the violence that transpired during the qualifications between Brazil and Argentina. The game was called off after police in Brazil clashed with traveling fans.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has denounced the violence that occurred during the FIFA World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina on Tuesday, November 21. Violent skirmishes erupted between Brazilian police and visiting fans at Rio de Janeiro’s renowned Maracana Stadium, with the police lathi-charging the crowd, many of whom were accompanied by their families. Chaos broke out behind one of the goalposts as supporters attempted to jump onto the pitch to avoid the wrath of the cops. The game was paused for 30 minutes while the players attempted to settle down the situation before returning to their locker rooms.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 22, Infantino stated that safety was of the utmost priority and urged the Brazilian Football Confederation to uphold it at all levels.

“Without exception, all players, fans, staff and managers need to be safe and protected to play and enjoy football and I urge the competent authorities to ensure this is respected at all levels,” Infantino said in a written statement.

Earlier this month, there were violent skirmishes between fans of Argentina’s Boca Juniors and Brazil’s Fluminense before of the clubs’ Copa Libertadores final.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi condemned Brazilian police of cruelty, saying the manner they were assaulting individuals was disgusting.

“It was terrible because we saw them hitting people… “The police were repressing the people with night sticks, as they had done in the Libertadores final, and there were players who had families over there,” Messi stated in a pitchside television interview.

During the national anthems, Brazilian and Argentine fans began fighting behind one of the goals, leading police to charge at the traveling contingent with night sticks.

Argentina fans retaliated by ripping up and hurling seats at officers, while other spectators fled onto the pitch to escape the brawl.

“We went to the locker room because it was the best way to calm everything down, it could have ended in tragedy,” he said.

“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,” said the football star.

Argentina triumphed 1-0 on a 63rd-minute headed goal by defender Nicolas Otamendi and celebrated in front of their fans at the same end of the stadium where the violence occurred.