Darwin Nunez has been handed a five-match suspension from representing Uruguay following the chaotic scenes that unfolded after their 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Copa America semi-final.
The incidents occurred in July, when tensions boiled over between players and fans, leading to a post-match clash that prompted an investigation by CONMEBOL, South America’s football governing body.
According to El Observador, Nunez received the heaviest punishment, being banned for five international games and fined $20,000. This suspension is strictly for international matches, meaning he remains eligible to play for Liverpool during this period.
Rodrigo Bentancur, who plays for Tottenham, was also punished, receiving a four-game ban and a $16,000 fine. Meanwhile, Jose Maria Gimenez, Mathias Olivera, and Ronald Araujo were each handed three-game suspensions and fined $12,000. Additionally, six other players, including Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez and Manchester United’s Facundo Pellistri, were fined $5,000 each. The Uruguayan Football Association has also been fined $20,000.
As a result of the ban, Nunez will miss Uruguay’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay (Sept 7), Venezuela (Sept 10), Peru (Oct 11), Ecuador (Oct 16), and Colombia (Nov 14). Although he will sit out the next two international windows, Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa will likely bring him back for the second qualifier in November against Brazil.
Atletico Madrid’s Jose Maria Gimenez, reflecting on the situation immediately after the events, shared his concerns: “A group of Colombian fans targeted our families in a specific section of the stands. Our loved ones, including newborn babies, were in danger. We had no choice but to intervene and get them out of harm’s way. It was a complete disaster, with no police presence until 30 minutes later. We had to stand up and protect our families.”
In the aftermath, Colombia went on to lose to Argentina in the Copa America final, while Uruguay secured third place by defeating Canada in the playoff.
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