Darwin Nunez Receives 5-Match Ban Following Copa America Brawl

CONMEBOL released a statement following a post-match brawl in Copa America 2024 involving Colombia and Uruguay. It is related to a ban for several players involved in that brawl, including Liverpool’s forward Darwin Nunez.

After the game which was won by Colombia 1-0, several Uruguay players confronted numerous Colombia fans who allegedly intimidated their family in the stands. Nunez was one of those who was caught on camera launching punches with several people. 

Not only that, Nunez was also caught attempting to throw a chair at a group of people wearing yellow. Following the incident, Nunez is prohibited from playing five international games plus a £15,000 fine. 

Darwin Nunez Ban: Prohibited from 5 International Games After Copa America Brawl

The ban also makes him miss the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay, Venezuela, Peru, and Ecuador. The Uruguayan federation is also fined the same amount as Nunez had, while an official Marcelo Garcia is given a six-month ban. The coach of the Uruguayan national football team, Marcelo Bielsa, ridiculed the sanctions. 

“The only thing I can tell you is that the players reacted like any other human being would,” he said via ESPN. “If you see that there’s a process to keep what happened from happening. 

If you see that if what happened happens anyways, and that there’s supposedly another process — an escape hatch, let’s say — and both things fail, and you see your woman, or your mother, or a baby, being attacked, what would you do? You’d ask whether they’re going to punish the people who defended themselves?”

Nunez’s fellow Uruguayans such as Rodrigo Bentancur, Jose Maria Gimenez, Mathias Olivera, and Ronald Araujo are also been punished with the same type of sanction. 

Bentancur received a four-game ban plus a 12,£100 fine, while the rest are given around £9,000 fine and a three-game ban. Six players were also involved but had lesser roles such as Matías Viña, Sebastián Cáceres, Brian Rodríguez, Emiliano Martínez, Santiago Mele, and Facundo Pellistri fined around £3,7000.

Also Read: Uruguay and Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez could face lengthy ban after brawl with fans