FIFA Chief Gianni Infantino has strongly condemned the violent clashes that marred Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Argentina, emphasizing that there is no place for such behavior in football.

In an Instagram post, Infantino stated, “There’s no place in football for this kind of violence, on or off the pitch. Players, fans, teams, and officials deserve a secure environment.”

The clashes erupted in the stands of Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium during the national anthems, with Brazilian police confronting Argentina fans. Tempers flared, leading to officers using batons to try to restore order.

Argentina players, including superstar Lionel Messi, attempted to intervene and pleaded for calm, but the situation escalated further. Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez even tried to jump into the seating area to confront a baton-wielding police officer.

The Argentine players eventually retreated to their dressing room, with Messi reportedly stating, “We’re not playing, we’re leaving.”

“We went to the locker room because it was a way to calm everything down a little,” Messi said. “We went to see how our families and people close to us were doing. And then we came back.”

Despite the turmoil, they later returned to the field and went on to win the match 1-0, courtesy of a goal from Nicolas Otamendi. The victory maintained Argentina’s position atop the South American qualifying standings with 15 points from six games.

Brazil, on the other hand, suffered their third defeat of the qualifying campaign and slipped to sixth place with seven points from six games.

Infantino’s statement echoes the concerns of many in the football community about the growing incidence of fan violence and safety issues in the sport.