What a shambolic exercise from Argentina FA over our players
Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of Argentina, has defended Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero, who were at the centre of attention during their game against Brazil.
The match between Argentina and Brazil in Sao Paulo was stopped after just ten minutes after several health officials and police officers stormed the field of play to detain four players who purportedly did not follow the country’s Covid-19 quarantine rules. Lo Celso and Romero were part of the four in question, including Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia.
All players concerned have flown out of the country after it was judged unlikely the clash would resume.
The Brazilian government states that individuals arriving from the UK must undertake 14 days of self-isolation, which the British-based foursome would not have completed in time. All this left Scaloni bloody annoyed at officials’ decision to erupt the game midway and has since supported his players and staff following the hullabaloo, claiming they were not to blame for the shambles.
Scaloni stated, “At no time were we notified that they [Premier League quartet] could not play the match. We wanted to play the match, the Brazilian footballers [did] too. It should have been a party for everyone to enjoy the best players in the world. I would like the people of Argentina to understand that as a coach, I have to defend my players. It makes me very sad; I am not looking for a culprit. If something happened or did not happen, it was not the time to make that intervention.”
As I said in my opening title, the whole thing proved shambolic (or a clowns circus) and could have been circumvented. For a start, if the country concerned was that worried, then why was the Argentina team allowed in the country in the first place (three days before kick-off) and then for the powers that be to detain the players mid-match?
Further news
The Evening Standard have revealed that the club are now in the dark over what happens to Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero after the pair were accused of withholding information to the health authorities of Brazil. They accused the four Argentine Premier League players of not disclosing that they had been in the UK over the last 14 days.
According to Alasdair Gold of Football.London, the club, have been left infuriated by what has happened in Brazil and could fine Lo Celso and Romero when they return to Tottenham.
As I believe it, our officials at Tottenham are in touch with the Argentine FA and the two players to offer their backing, however, it is uncertain when all players concerned will be back in the country.
Your thoughts will be welcome,
Stay safe, Glenn
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1960s (the season of the double). In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
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