A scuffle on the field spilled into the stands after a Copa America semifinal match on Wednesday in Charlotte, with Uruguayan players getting into a fight with spectators.
Immediately following the final whistle that ended Colombia’s 1-0 win over Uruguay, players engaged in some shoving at the center circle. Fox Sports commentator John Strong indicated that Uruguay veteran Luis Suarez was at the center of the kerfuffle.
A video that later aired on Fox Sports showed Uruguayan players in the stands exchanging punches with fans as beer and garbage rained down around them.
According to multiple media reports, Uruguay’s Darwin Nunez was in the middle of the fight, with teammate Ronald Araujo alongside. Police and security personnel reportedly finally quelled the situation.
Uruguay defender Jose Maria Gimenez said, according to The Athletic, that he and his teammates were defending their families from Colombian supporters.
“It’s a total disaster,” Gimenez said, per The Athletic. “There wasn’t a single police officer. They showed up half an hour later. A disaster. And we were there, standing up for ourselves, for our loved ones. …
“Hopefully organizers take a little more precautions with our families, with the people and those around the stadiums. Because this happens every game. Our families are suffering because of some people who have a few drinks and don’t know how to drink, who act like children. Hopefully, they’ll take more precautions for the next game so this doesn’t happen again, because this is a disaster.”
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said in a press conference, “I thought that the incident ended with some argument on the midfield, and when I saw that happening, I went to the locker room. I thought that they were thanking the fans for their support. But then I learned that there were some problems over there unfortunately.”
Tournament organizer CONMEBOL will have to determine any punishments to issue in relation to incident. That could affect the availability of Uruguayan players for the third-place match on Saturday against Canada at the same Charlotte stadium where Uruguay lost its semifinal match.
–Field Level Media