Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez could face a lengthy ban after he clashed with supporters in the stands following Uruguay’s Copa America semi-final defeat to Colombia on Wednesday.
Nunez was among the Uruguay players who went up into the stands at the end of the match in Charlotte in the United States and appeared to become involved in altercations with supporters wearing the yellow shirts of Colombia.
South American football’s governing body, CONMEBOL, responded by stating: ‘CONMEBOL strongly condemns any act of violence that affects football. Our work is based on the conviction that football connects us and unites us, through its positive values.
‘There is no place for intolerance and violence on and off the field. We invite everyone in the remaining days to pour all their passion into cheering on their teams and having an unforgettable party.’
Nunez’s management company has been contacted for comment. A skirmish behind the Uruguay bench saw a group of supporters clash with Colombia fans, who made up the vast majority of the crowd, with drinks thrown.
Incredible new footage then emerged overnight which showed the moment Liverpool star Nunez entered the stands before he threw punches at supporters.
Nunez, alongside team-mates including Jose Gimenez and Ronald Araujo battled fans of their opponents, while Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Betancur could be seen flinging two bottles into the stands – only for one to hit a Uruguayan staff member.
The new images showed the early stages of the melee in where a man in a black polo shirt with a credential around his neck appears to spark tensions after he can be seen punching a nearby Colombia fan.
Nunez soon appeared and initially attempted to throw a bottle before it was knocked out of his hand. The 25-year-old then made his way into the heart of the scuffle, leaping over rows of seats to engage with the Colombia fans.
Uruguay defender Gimenez claimed that the players’ families – sitting in close proximity to the fans – were ‘avalanched’ by drunken supporters, and that they’d stepped in to defend them.
‘This is an embarrassment, there wasn’t one police officer to control them. We had to go and defend our own just because they can’t control their drinking,’ he said.
Nunez was later seen consoling his baby daughter on the field after the fight. Some supporters could also be heard screaming as the unsavoury scenes unfolded nearby.
Credit: dailymail.co.uk
