INTERNATIONAL: Argentina's football squad are back home in training after Sunday night’s fiasco in Brazil. Their World Cup qualifier was called off five minutes into the match, because four of their players had lied on their immigration forms to dodge quarantine. No date has been set for a rematch, but Argentina’s next scheduled fixture is against Bolivia on Thursday.
Aston Villa duo, Emiliano Martinez and Emi Buendia, as well as Spurs duo Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso have all been accused of quarantine dodging. Brazil's Federal Police say they have opened a formal inquiry. The country’s health regulator, Anvisa, says Brazilian rules clearly state that travellers who have been in the UK, South Africa or India during the previous 14 days are forbidden from entering the country, unless they are Brazilian citizens or have permanent residency.
In response, the Argentine Football Association says Martinez and Buendia have been released from the national team. They will not take part in Thursday's qualifier against Bolivia. It has also released Lo Celso and Romero, saying "they are out of the game and can return to their club in the UK." FIFA has yet to announce a new date for the Argentina-Brazil qualifier.
