Football

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez has been handed a five-match ban and a hefty fine by South American football governing body CONMEBOL for his involvement in a mass brawl during the Copa America semi-final between Uruguay and Colombia. The incident, which occurred at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, saw Nunez and several other players engage in a physical altercation with fans in the stands.Nunez's punishment is the most severe among the 11 players sanctioned by CONMEBOL. Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur received a four-match suspension, while defenders Mathias Olivera, Ronald Araujo, and Jose Maria Gimenez were each banned for three matches. The other players involved were fined varying amounts ranging from $5,000 to $16,000.The Uruguayan Football Federation was also fined $20,000 for its role in the incident. CONMEBOL's statement did not specify when the suspensions would begin, but they are expected to cover games organized by the confederation, excluding domestic competitions.Uruguay is scheduled to play a friendly against Guatemala on Sunday before facing Paraguay and Venezuela in World Cup qualifiers on September 6 and 10, respectively. It remains unclear if Nunez and the other suspended players will be available for these matches.Uruguay central defender Gimenez claimed that the players intervened in the melee to protect their family members and loved ones who were watching the game in the affected section of the stadium. However, CONMEBOL's investigation concluded that the players' actions were unacceptable and warranted punishment.The suspensions and fines are open to appeal, but it is unclear if any of the affected parties will pursue this option. The incident has cast a shadow over the Copa America tournament and raised concerns about the safety of fans at football matches.

Hard Rock Stadium has defended its security measures following the chaotic scenes that marred the Copa America final between Colombia and Argentina. CONMEBOL, the governing body for football in South America, accused the venue of ignoring advice that could have prevented the incidents that delayed the game by 82 minutes.CONMEBOL claimed that local organizers failed to follow suggested procedures, such as setting up an outer perimeter to screen ticketless fans. However, stadium officials stated that security measures were jointly decided by the venue, CONMEBOL, and local law enforcement.Hard Rock Stadium has a proven track record of hosting major events, including Super Bowls, international soccer matches, and Formula 1 races. The venue emphasized that security is always a collaborative effort involving the organizer, law enforcement, and the venue.According to the stadium, it implemented and exceeded CONMEBOL's security recommendations throughout the tournament and the final. Despite the presence of 800 officers, local police were overwhelmed by the situation and detained 27 people while ejecting 55 others.The security concerns raised by the Copa America final have raised questions about the United States' ability to co-host the 2026 World Cup. The incident also follows a brawl between Uruguay players and Colombian fans after their semi-final defeat in Charlotte, North Carolina.