Current:Home > ScamsUruguay players and Colombia fans fight in stands after Copa America semifinal-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
Uruguay players and Colombia fans fight in stands after Copa America semifinal
lotradecoin developer API documentation View Date:2024-12-25 14:44:16
Flaring tempers following Colombia's Copa America semifinal win over Uruguay found its way in the stands, where several Uruguayan players were seen engaging with Colombian fans after the game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Uruguay defender José María Giménez said some Colombian fans had become aggressive in the stands toward Uruguay team family members, some holding small children, after the match.
“This is a disaster, our family was in danger,” Giménez said. “We had to get into the stands to get our loved ones out, with small newborn babies. There was not a single police officer … and we were there standing up for our own.”
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said he didn’t see the drama unfold after the match.
“There was some argument in the midfield, and when I saw that happening, I went to the locker room. I thought they were thanking the fans for their support,” Bielsa said. “But then I learned there were some problems over there unfortunately.”
CONMEBOL, which governs soccer in South America, released a statement just after midnight.
“CONMEBOL strongly condemns any act of violence that affects football. Our work is based on the conviction that soccer connects and unites us through its positive values. There is no place for intolerance and violence on and off the field,” the organization said. “We invite everyone in the remaining days to pour all their passion into cheering on their national teams and having an unforgettable party.”
Wild and violent postgame scene
Uruguay striker Darwin Núñez, with his hair in a ponytail and shirtless after giving his jersey away, was seen being held back by several people in the stands while a Colombian fan appeared to punch him in the face.
Another sequence showed Núñez appearing to hit at least one fan after breaking free.
Luis Suarez, Messi’s Inter Miami teammate and Uruguay's all-time leading scorer, appeared to instigate an earlier postgame incident in his final international match.
Suarez caused a series of scuffles between players and coaches when both teams approached midfield after the final whistle.
The series of events created an ugly scene after Colombia advanced to the Copa America final on Wednesday night.
Colombia will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina during the Copa America final on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Meanwhile, Uruguay is set to play against Canada in the third-place match at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (3275)
Related
- Infamous LA officer’s gun found in $1 million watch robbery case
- Trapped baby orca nicknamed Brave Little Hunter dodges rescue attempts, swims to freedom on her own in Canada
- RJ Davis' returning to North Carolina basketball: What it means for Tar Heels in 2024-25
- 'The Fall Guy' review: Ryan Gosling brings his A game as a lovestruck stuntman
- Biden to designate 1908 Springfield race riot site as national monument
- Celebrate May the 4th with These Star Wars Items That Will Ship in Time for the Big Day, They Will
- Florida’s 6-week abortion ban takes effect as doctors worry women will lose access to health care
- Your guide to the healthiest veggies: These are the best types to add to your diet
- 'Truffles is just like me:' How a Pennsylvania cat makes kids feel proud to wear glasses
- Kelly Clarkson mistakes her song for a Christina Aguilera hit in a game with Anne Hathaway
Ranking
- The president of Columbia University has resigned, effective immediately
- Charges revealed against former Trump chief of staff in Arizona fake elector case
- Maine governor will allow one final gun safety bill, veto another in wake of Lewiston mass shootings
- Kansas tornado leaves 1 dead, destroys nearly two dozen homes, officials say
- Family of man killed by Connecticut police officer files lawsuit, seeks federal probe of department
- Jersey Shore's Pauly D Shares Rare Update on Life With 10-Year-Old Daughter Amabella
- Live Nation's Concert Week is here: How to get $25 tickets to hundreds of concerts
- The newest Crocs have a sudsy, woodsy appeal. Here's how to win or buy new Busch Light Crocs
Recommendation
-
Usher concert postponed hours before tour opener in Atlanta
-
Jeff Daniels loads up for loathing in 'A Man in Full' with big bluster, Georgia accent
-
Number of searches on Americans in FBI foreign intelligence database fell in 2023, report shows
-
Bill Romanowski, wife file for bankruptcy amid DOJ lawsuit over unpaid taxes
-
Social media celebrates Chick-Fil-A's Banana Pudding Milkshake: 'Can I go get in line now?'
-
Walnuts sold at Whole Foods and other grocers recalled after E. coli outbreak sickens 12
-
Montana man gets 2 1/2 years in prison for leaving threatening voicemails for Senator Jon Tester
-
Ford recalls Maverick pickups in US because tail lights can go dark, increasing the risk of a crash