The South American football governing body, CONMEBOL, has handed down suspensions to several Uruguayan internationals following a post-match incident at the Copa America semifinal against Colombia in July.
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez will be sidelined for five Uruguay fixtures, including several crucial World Cup qualifiers. Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has received a four-match ban. Mathias Olivera, Ronald Araujo, and Jose Maria Gimenez will each miss three games.
The incident, which involved a brawl between Uruguay players and fans, occurred at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte after Uruguay suffered a 1-0 defeat to Colombia.
Nunez has also been fined $20,000, Bentancur $16,000, and Olivera, Araujo, and Gimenez $12,000 each. Seven other Uruguayan players will pay a $5,000 fine.
Gimenez, speaking to journalists after the incident, explained that the team was trying to protect their families from Colombian supporters. The suspensions are a significant blow to Uruguay’s World Cup qualifying campaign and their preparations for future international competitions.
