Uruguay’s head coach, Marcelo Bielsa, has been suspended by the South American football governing body, CONMEBOL, for repeatedly breaching tournament rules. The infraction? Coming out late for the second half in both of Uruguay’s first two Copa America matches. As a result, Bielsa will be absent from Uruguay’s upcoming match against the United States on Monday.
CONMEBOL announced the suspension on Sunday, citing Bielsa’s violation of Copa America regulations. The governing body also imposed a $15,000 fine on the Uruguayan Football Association. Copa America regulations clearly state that players must be on the pitch within a designated timeframe following the break. A first violation warrants a warning, while a second leads to a suspension.
This sanction follows Uruguay’s late return for the second half in their victories against Panama and Bolivia. Interestingly, Bielsa’s penalty mirrors the one given to three other Argentine coaches – Lionel Scaloni (Argentina), Ricardo Gareca (Chile), and Fernando Batista (Venezuela) – during this Copa America, held in the U.S.
While the sanction is directed at Bielsa, other coaches have voiced their concerns about the timing rules. Jorge Fossati, Peru’s coach, expressed his belief that the rules need adjustment to accommodate the logistics of some stadiums. He stated that the stopwatch shouldn’t be started at the end of the first half, but rather when teams reach the locker room, especially considering the sometimes significant distance to the changing facilities.
Despite this setback, Uruguay is in a strong position in Group C, boasting a 2-0 record and a plus-seven goal difference. They are poised to advance to the next stage with a draw against the U.S. in Kansas City, Missouri, on Monday night. A loss, however, might still see them through, depending on the outcome of other matches in the group. Meanwhile, the U.S. is looking to secure a victory, currently holding three points and a plus-one goal difference.
