Copa America bosses have launched an investigation into the brawl between Darwin Nunez and a section of Colombia fans after Uruguay were knocked out of the tournament on Wednesday night.
Crystal Palace midfielder Jefferson Lerma scored the only goal of the game at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina to book Colombia’s place in Sunday’s final alongside reigning champion Argentina, before the match was soured by ugly full-time scenes.
Footage captured Nunez amongst the fans in one of the stands, getting involved in a brawl with a group of Colombian supporters. It remains unclear as to how the incident began, but the Liverpool striker and his teammates had entered the crowd in order to stand by family and friends seated behind the team bench, Uruguayan news outlet El Pais reports.
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A commotion soon began, however, and the Reds forward wasted no time in making his feelings known. He clambered over a number of seats in order to confront the supporters, before making his way to the front of the crowd and throwing arms at one supporter.
Nunez then lifts his arms up, seemingly ready to get involved in a fight, but is held back by a police officer. One of the Colombia fans, however, managed to land a swift punch on him, sparking the Uruguayan to release his own attack on those in close proximity. Footage shows him making contact with at least one person.
It remains unclear whether Nunez, or anyone else, suffered any injuries and whether they were serious. It was reported, however, that one Uruguay star’s mother passed out as players’ families were caught up in the ugly scenes.
The fight broke out as families of the Uruguay squad were brought onto the pitch for safety, with children being lifted out of the stands. According to journalist Favian Renkel, who captured much of the brawl on video, it was the mother of midfielder Manuel Ugarte’s who passed out as the fight began, having been sat close to the trouble.
Copa America chiefs have acted promptly to investigate the shocking ordeal and condemned the violence in a damning statement.
It read: “Given the acts of violence that occurred at the end of the match between the Uruguayan and Colombian national teams, the CONMEBOL Disciplinary Unit has decided to open a file to elucidate the sequence of events and the responsibilities of those involved.
“On the eve of the final of our Copa América we want to ratify and warn that any action that tarnishes a world football celebration will not be tolerated, in which the protagonists and the fans who will be present in the stadium are involved. final seen by hundreds of millions of viewers around the world.
“It is unacceptable that an event like the one that occurred on this occasion turns passion into violence. Therefore, any attitude that violates sporting competition and the most beautiful spectacle in the world that belongs to the entire family will not be tolerated.”
Nunez’s teammate and Uruguay captain Jose Maria Gimenez was also pictured among the brawl alongside Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo to help control proceedings. However, he has since warned that a “disaster” almost occurred due to the ugly scenes.
Following the game, the Atletico Madrid defender said: “I hope that those organising this event take more care of the families, the people, and the surroundings of the stadiums because this is a disaster. The same thing happens in every match.
“Our families are suffering because of those who drink too much alcohol and behave like children with no sense. I hope they take precautions and it doesn’t happen again because this is a disaster.”
Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was part of the Uruguay squad that suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of its opponent at the semifinal stage of the Copa America. He has also spoken out following the game and the incidents that followed.
Taking to social media platform X, Suarez wrote: “It is difficult to accept defeat, it hurts to lose and even more so with the hope we had, but we are left with the peace of mind that we gave our best. Now is where we have to show strength as a group and continue working with the same humility. Let’s always go Uruguay.”
It’s understood that Liverpool chiefs are planning to contact Nunez in the wake of the Uruguayan forward’s involvement in the mass brawl, with bosses resolving to look into the matter to establish the facts behind what occurred in North Carolina.
In a statement on the incident, Ignacio Alonso, the president of the Uruguayan Football Association, said: “Uruguay’s players had an instinctive, natural reaction, which is to defend the children who were suffering aggressions, their wives, parents, siblings. It is a natural, instinctive reaction that occurred with rationality for what the events that were happening were.”