[1/4] Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Brazil v Argentina - Estadio Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - November 21, 2023 Fans clash with security staff in the stands causing a delay to the start of the match REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes Acquire Licensing RightsRIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 21 (Reuters) - The start of the World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina was delayed by half an hour after violent clashes between police and visiting fans at Maracana Stadium on Tuesday. Some Argentina fans responded by ripping up and throwing seats at the officers as nearby fans panicked and came onto the pitch to escape the fighting. One Argentina fan lay prone on the pitch with a bloodied face before being taken from the stadium on a stretcher. On Tuesday, the Argentina players eventually returned once the police had corralled the visiting fans in a pen and the match started after a lengthy delay. It was a third straight defeat for five-times World Cup winners Brazil, who had midfielder Joelinton sent off 18 minutes from time.

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Persons: Ricardo Moraes, Lionel Messi, Messi, Nicolas Otamendi, Joelinton, Fernando Kallas, Nick Mulvenney, Stephen Coates Organizations: Soccer, Estadio Maracana, REUTERS, DE, Maracana, Argentina, Libertadores, Argentina's Boca Juniors, Brazil's Fluminense, Copa Libertadores, Brazil, Thomson Locations: Brazil, Argentina, Rio de Janeiro, DE JANEIRO