Canada Sport News

Conflict erupts between Uruguay players and Colombia fans following Copa America semifinal
  • Copa America 2024
    •

    Conflict erupts between Uruguay players and Colombia fans following Copa America semifinal

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Darwin Núñez and about a dozen Uruguay teammates went into the stands as fans brawled at Bank of America Stadium following a 1-0 loss to Colombia in a Copa America semifinal on Wednesday night.

    After a physical and contentious match, a melee broke out behind the Uruguay bench after Mexican referee César Ramos’ final whistle.

    The crowd of 70,644 was about 90% in favor in Colombia, but a small patch of Uruguay fans fought with Colombia supporters as beverages were thrown.

    Núñez and teammates then climbed a staircase into the crowd. A video showed Núñez hitting a fan in Colombian team colors.

    Uruguay captain José Giménez said players went in the crowd to protect their families.

    “This is a disaster. Our family is in danger. We had to get into the stands to take out our loved ones with small babies, newborns,” he told TUDN. “Everything was a disaster. There was not a single police officer.”

    It took more than 10 minutes for police to arrive on the scene and to restore order. The public address announcer asked for fans to leave the stadium, but several supporters remained.

    About 100 Uruguayan fans and and members of the federation staff remained on the field more than 20 minutes after the game, while Colombia fans made their way out to celebrate.

    “There was some argument in the midfield, and when I saw that happening, I went to the locker room. I thought they were thanking the fans for their support,” Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said. “But then I learned there were some problems over there unfortunately.”

    More from Sportsnet
    Copa America Takeaways: 10-man Colombia defeats Uruguay to reach final


    England, Netherlands fans clash in Dortmund ahead of Euro 2024 semifinal game

    The Copa America semifinal match between Uruguay and Colombia took a dramatic turn as conflict erupted between the players and fans following the intense game. The match, which took place at the Estadio Nacional in Lima, Peru, ended in a 2-2 draw after extra time, with Colombia ultimately winning 4-2 on penalties.

    Tensions were high throughout the game, with both teams fighting hard for a spot in the final. However, things took a turn for the worse after the final whistle blew. Reports indicate that a group of Colombian fans began taunting the Uruguayan players as they left the field, leading to a heated exchange between the two sides.

    Videos circulating on social media show players from both teams engaging in a physical altercation with fans, with punches being thrown and insults exchanged. The situation quickly escalated, with security personnel having to intervene to break up the confrontation.

    The incident has sparked outrage among football fans and officials, with many calling for an investigation into the matter. Both teams have issued statements condemning the violence and expressing their commitment to fair play and sportsmanship.

    This is not the first time that such incidents have occurred in football matches, and it serves as a reminder of the need for better security measures and fan behavior at sporting events. The Copa America organizing committee has promised to take action against those responsible for inciting violence and ensure that such incidents do not happen again in the future.

    In the meantime, both Uruguay and Colombia will have to focus on their next matches as they continue their quest for the Copa America title. Let’s hope that this unfortunate incident serves as a wake-up call for all involved and leads to a more peaceful and respectful atmosphere in future games.