Montevideo, Aug. 29 (Agency) Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez has received a five-match international ban for his role in a melee with fans after a Copa America match in July, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said on Wednesday. The Liverpool No. 9 was one of several Uruguay players that climbed into the stands following their team’s 1-0 semifinal loss to Colombia in Charlotte. Videos shown on television and social media showed the players scuffling with Colombian fans for several minutes before security personnel restored order.
Rodrigo Bentancur was also banned for four games while Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez and Mathias Olivera were given three-match penalties. CONMEBOL also fined the Uruguayan Football Association 20,000 U.S. dollars while Nunez was fined 20,000 dollars, Betancur 16,000 dollars, and Araujo, Olivera and Gimenez 12,000 dollars each. Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa said after the incident that the players were trying to protect their families.The suspensions will be served in Uruguay’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The Celeste are due to meet Paraguay, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil in the next three months.