Darwin Nunez clashes with fans after Uruguay defeat

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Darwin
Nunes:
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Liverpool
striker
Darwin
Nunez
was
involved
in
a
post-match
altercation
with
spectators
following
Uruguay’s
defeat
to
Colombia
in
the
Copa
America
semifinal
on
Wednesday
evening.

The
incident
occurred
at
the
Bank
of
America
Stadium
in
Charlotte,
North
Carolina.

Núñez,
visibly
frustrated
after
the
match,
was
seen
physically
confronting
Colombia
fans
in
the
stands.

According
to
Uruguayan
outlet
El
País,
the
disorder
erupted
near
the
section
where
friends
and
family
of
the
Uruguay
team
were
seated.
TV
cameras
and
fans
captured
Núñez
climbing
railings
and
entering
the
crowded
stands,
where
he
confronted
Colombia
fans
as
others
attempted
to
restrain
him.

The
altercation
reportedly
involved
other
Uruguay
players
as
well.
Uruguay
captain
José
María
Giménez
described
the
chaotic
scene,
stating
that
the
players
were
trying
to
defend
their
families.

“There
was
no
police
and
we
had
to
defend
our
families.
This
is
the
fault
of
two
or
three
people
who
had
a
few
too
many
drinks
and
don’t
know
how
to
drink,”
Giménez
told
Reuters.

Following
the
incident,
Núñez
was
seen
on
the
pitch
hugging
his
son,
providing
a
stark
contrast
to
the
earlier
chaotic
scenes.

South
American
football’s
governing
body,
CONMEBOL,
has
“strongly
condemned”
the
incident
and
announced
an
investigation.
“There
is
no
place
for
intolerance
and
violence
on
and
off
the
field,”
the
organization
stated.

The
brawl
unfolded
after
Uruguay’s
1-0
loss
to
Colombia,
which
denied
them
a
spot
in
Monday’s
Copa
America
final
against
Argentina.
The
defeat
was
compounded
by
earlier
clashes
between
players
and
coaching
staff
on
the
pitch
immediately
after
the
match
ended.

Darwin
Nunez,
who
started
the
game
for
Uruguay
but
failed
to
convert
any
of
his
four
attempts
on
goal,
has
yet
to
comment
publicly
on
the
incident.