Assumption. Eleven players from the Uruguayan national team were sanctioned for the serious incidents that occurred after the Copa América-2024 semi-final match against Colombia last July, Conmebol reported today.
Forward Darwin Núñez received the most severe sanction, being suspended for five matches and fined, while the rest of those involved were punished with four matches.
The players of the Celeste They jumped into the stands at the end of the match in Charlotte where Colombia defeated Uruguay 1-0 and got into a fistfight with Colombian supporters in an area where relatives of the footballers were.
In addition to Núñez (Liverpool), who was also fined $20,000, Conmebol suspended midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur and Mathías Olivera (both 4 games and $16,000), Ronald Araujo and José María Giménez (both 3 games and $12,000).
Meanwhile, Sebastian Caceres, Matias Viña, Emiliano Martinez, Brian Rodriguez, Santiago Mele and Facundo Pellistri received fines of 5 thousand dollars each.
Conmebol said that the appeal is open, although it did not clarify when the collective punishment would come into effect.
The Uruguayan national team, led by Argentine Marcelo Bielsa, will play Paraguay in Montevideo on Friday, September 6 in the South American qualifier for the World Cup in North America, and four days later they will face Venezuela.
Incidents in the stands
The Uruguayan footballers claimed that they jumped into the stands to defend their relatives who were being attacked by Colombian supporters.
A brawl broke out at the venue, which in addition to the footballers, also involved a leader of the Uruguayan delegation, Marcelo García, who was caught on video throwing a bottle. García was banned from entering stadiums for six months.
“There was not a single policeman, they arrived after half an hour (…) I hope that those who are organizing this will take a little more care with the families,” said defender José María Giménez at the end of the match.
According to Uruguayan media, CONMEBOL’s decision regarding Bielsa is still pending. In a press conference, he defended the attitude of his players and harshly criticized the South American football organization.
“The players reacted as any human being would,” Bielsa said at a press conference, adding that the players “were left with no choice.”
Conmebol warned that in the event of a repeat offence, even more severe sanctions will be applied according to current regulations.
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– 2024-09-04 12:21:14
