Copa America 2024: Uruguay players, including Darwin Núñez, brawl with fans after loss to Colombia
Xtra Time Web Desk: The 2024 Copa América took a dramatic and unfortunate turn for Uruguay in the semifinals against Colombia. After a disappointing loss to a short-handed Colombian team, chaos ensued at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Following the match, some Uruguay players, led by Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez, engaged in a brawl with Colombian fans in the stands.Uruguay's José María Giménez spoke to the broadcast after the ugly incident, claiming the brawl was preceded by the Uruguay players' families being harassed by a group of Colombia fans and urging the tournament organizers to make changes with security.
Tournament organizer CONMEBOL released a statement hours later denouncing the violence, but saying little else.
Uruguay players have entered the stands and a fight has broken out between fans and players pic.twitter.com/XRbte2ibiy
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 11, 2024
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The violence was preceded by a frustrating loss for Uruguay, which was playing for a chance to face Argentina in the final for its first Copa América title since 2011. Instead, it will face Canada in the third-place game on Saturday, and it will almost certainly be missing a few players as discipline for the brawl is handed out.
After defeat to Colombia, Uruguayan players entered the stands at Bank of America Stadium and began to throw punches. Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez amongst those at the forefront. pic.twitter.com/VE3unKObSa
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 11, 2024
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Statement. pic.twitter.com/SGozrzqLyv
— CONMEBOL Copa América™️ ENG (@copaamerica_ENG) July 11, 2024
Uruguay was favored to defeat Los Cafeteros in the semifinal, but fell behind in the 40th minute on a beautiful corner kick from James Rodriguez that Jefferson Lerma headed into the net. Their hopes for a comeback were bolstered early in the second half when Colombia's Daniel Muñoz hit Manuel Ugarte, leading to a second yellow card and leaving his team in a 10-vs.-11 situation.
Uruguay kept up the pressure and had some real scoring chances, but just couldn't get the ball in the net by the time expired. It was frustrating, and the result was a scene that could be damaging for the team well beyond the tournament.
