Darwin Nunez Receives Five-Match Ban for Incident at Copa America

Darwin Nunez, forward for Liverpool FC, has been handed a five-match ban from international play following his involvement in a violent incident during the Copa America tournament in July. The sanctions were imposed after Uruguay‘s narrow defeat to Colombia, where significant chaos ensued.

The Uruguayan player has also been fined $20,000 (£15,000) as part of the disciplinary actions taken by South American football’s governing body, CONMEBOL. This punishment prevents Nunez from representing Uruguay until a World Cup qualifier against Brazil in November.

In addition to Nunez’s suspension, Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has received a four-match ban and a fine of $16,000 (£12,000). Both players’ exclusions will affect their availability for the upcoming international breaks in September and October.

Photographs from the incident depicted Nunez attempting to protect his family members, who were located in a vulnerable section of the crowd during the turmoil. The altercation reportedly began following Colombia’s 1-0 victory at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Beyond Nunez and Bentancur, a total of 11 players received penalties, and the Uruguayan Football Association (FA) faced a fine of $120,000. Other players, including Mathias Olivera, Ronald Araujo, and Jose Maria Gimenez, received three-match bans, while several others were fined $5,000 each.

The incident raised serious concerns about the security measures in place, as noted by Gimenez in a post-match interview. He emphasized the dangers posed to the families of the players, expressing discontent with the lack of security during the match.