Washington, July 13 (FN Agency) Marcelo Bielsa vehemently defended Uruguay’s players after they clashed with Colombia fans following their Copa America semi-final defeat. (More Football News)La Celeste’s hopes of landing a record-breaking 16th title were ended by a 1-0 loss in Charlotte on Wednesday, and they will subsequently face Canada in Saturday’s third-place playoff. After the match, footage shared on social media showed La Celeste players climbing into the stands at the Bank of America Stadium when family members were caught up in violence involving Colombia supporters.
CONMEBOL has opened an investigation into the incident but, when asked whether he feared facing sanctions, Bielsa insisted his players should receive an apology rather than punishment. “How can you not defend your mother, your sister, a baby?!” he angrily told reporters at his pre-match press conference. “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 that. 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. Here, the message was we cannot defend your family, and we cannot allow them to flee. What sanction are they talking to me about?!”