Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez has been suspended for five international matches following his involvement in altercations between players and fans after Uruguay’s defeat to Colombia at the Copa America this summer.
Nunez, who has also been handed a $20,000 fine will not be eligible to represent his country again until a World Cup qualifier against Brazil in November.
Additionally, Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has received a four-match suspension.
South American football’s governing body, CONMEBOL, have sanctioned a total of 11 players in response to the incidents at Bank of America Stadium.
In addition, the Uruguayan Football Association (FA) has been fined $120,000.
The ugly scenes unfolded after Nunez’s Uruguay side lost 1-0 in their Copa America semi-final.
It is reported that Nunez climbed into the stands in an attempt to protect his loved ones.
In the ensuing chaos, he attempted to throw a foldable chair, but a security guard intervened to prevent anyone from being struck.
Additionally, three other Uruguay players – Mathias Olivera, Ronaldo Araujo, and Jose Gimenez – have each received three-match suspensions for their involvement in the incident.
Santiago Mele, Matias Vina, Sebastian Caceres, Emiliano Martinez, Facundo Pellistri, and Brian Rodriguez have each been fined $5,000 for their involvement in the incident.
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa believed his players deserved an apology rather than sanctions for their actions at Bank of America Stadium.
Bielsa criticized the tournament organizers for failing to adequately protect the families of players seated behind the Uruguay bench.
He defended his players’ decision to intervene, stating that they were only trying to safeguard their loved ones in the absence of proper security measures.
“We are in the United States, the country of security,” Bielsa said.
“How can you not defend your mother, your sister, a baby?
“If they did not do it, they would have been condemned by all of us.”
“The sanction does not have to be for the footballers, but for those who forced them to act like this,” Bielsa said.
“This is a witch hunt. It is a shame.”
“You should have asked me if we have received an apology, not if I fear sanctions,” Bielsa added.
“I am very afraid of sports revenge.
“They always threaten you in sports. Here the message was we cannot defend your family and we cannot allow them to flee.
“What sanction are they talking to me about?
“What we have to see is when are they going to apologize.”
More to follow…
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