On Tuesday, a Covid-19 outbreak marred a continental football match between Brazilian side Bahia and Argentina’s Independiente, held in the northeastern city of Salvador. Eleven of Independiente’s squad tested positive for the coronavirus upon arriving in Brazil. While their teammates moved on to their hotel to prepare for the match, the remainder slept on the airport floor, waiting to return to Buenos Aires.
AHORA | Walter Lusnig, vocal de #Independiente , que está en Brasil al aire en @radiolared “Estamos 11 personas, de las cuales 8 jugadores en el aeropuerto. Vinimos todos en un avión, dejaron pasaron pasar a los tripulantes. Estamos en el piso sin mantas, sin comida, sin cama. pic.twitter.com/sbAh6eeQz3
— Matias Martinez (@Mati_Martinez) May 4, 2021
Independiente’s official Twitter account said the club was “mistreated” by local authorities. Indeed, the same players tested negative upon returning to Argentina, raising suspicions. The two sides drew the match 2-2.