Darwin Núñez and about a dozen Uruguay teammates went into stands and threw punches at the fans at the Copa America match at the Bank of America Stadium in Uptown Charlotte.
This happened following a heated 1-0 loss to Colombia in the Copa America semifinals. The altercation happened after drinks were thrown at the players as they approached the stand where fans of both teams were already getting physical.
Check out these tweets and videos of how it transpired in the stadium. In the video, Nunez could be seen fighting the fans after a drink was thrown their way. Other players like Ronald Araujo and Midtjylland midfielder Emiliano Martinez were also involved in the altercation.
After the match was completed, here is what Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa had to say about the incident.
“I didn’t see that. I thought that the incident ended with some arguments in midfield and when I saw that happen then I went to the locker room. I thought they were thanking the fans for their support, but then I learned that there were some problems over there, unfortunately.”
CONMEBOL also released a statement about the incident. “CONMEBOL strongly condemns any acts of violence that affect football. Our work is based on the conviction that soccer connects and unites us through its positive values. There is no place for intolerance and violence on and off the pitch. We invite everyone in the remaining days to pour all their passion into cheering on their national teams and having an unforgettable party.”
Most likely, a few players will get suspended for this ugly moment during the post-game. After the final whistle, players from both Uruguay and Colombia were involved in a heated confrontation at midfield that required intervention to defuse the situation.
Uruguayan defender Jose Giminez blamed the incident on the lack of security. “This is a disaster, our families are in danger. Not one single policeman”