Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez has been suspended for five international matches, and several other players were also banned for their roles in confrontations with fans after Uruguay's Copa America defeat to Colombia in July, according to South American soccer's governing body on Wednesday.
Rodrigo Bentancur received a four-game ban, while Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez, and Mathias Olivera each were handed three-game suspensions. Following Colombia's 1-0 win in the Copa semifinal, Uruguay players ascended into the stands and engaged in physical altercations with opposing fans. Uruguay captain Gimenez stated that the players were defending their families.
The Uruguay FA was fined $20,000, and a total of 11 players were penalized for their involvement in the melee. Nunez was fined $20,000, Bentancur $16,000, and Araujo, Olivera, and Gimenez $12,000 each. The players will serve their bans in Uruguay's upcoming official matches in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers, facing Paraguay in Montevideo and Venezuela in Maturin in September; Peru (away) and Ecuador (home) in October; Colombia (home) and Brazil (away) in November.
