Darwin Nunez exchanged punches with fighting fans during a chaotic end to the game.© AFP
Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez has been banned for five matches and fined by South American confederation CONMEBOL after his role in a mass brawl in the Copa America semi-final. Four other players have been suspended, with 11 sanctioned overall, as a result of the investigation into the violence at the end of the clash between Uruguay and Colombia in Charlotte. Nunez was among the players who waded into the stands at the Bank of America Stadium and exchanged punches with fighting fans during a chaotic end to the game.
The forward’s punishment was the most severe of those handed out with the others given four matches or less along with fines.
Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who plays in England for Tottenham, was suspended for four matches, defender Mathias Olivera, Ronald Araujo and Jose Maria Gimenez all barred for three matches.
Nunez was fined $20,000 with the other players receiving fines ranging from $16,000 to $5,0000.
Six other players received only fines.
In addition, the Uruguayan Football Federation were fined $20,000 with the amount to be deducted from revenue and prize money.
Uruguay central defender Gimenez said players had leapt into the melee out of concern for the safety of family members and loved ones watching the game in that section of the ground.
The punishments are open to appeal but CONMEBOL statement did not state when the suspensions, which cover games organised by CONMEBOL and not domestic competitions, would begin.
Uruguay are scheduled to play a friendly against Guatemala in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday and then head into World Cup qualifiers at home to Paraguay on September 6 and away to Venezuela on September 10.
Colombia won the game 1-0 but lost the final to Argentina.
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