Uruguay Coach Marcelo Bielsa Defends Players After Brawl with Colombia Fans
Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa defended his players’ involvement in a brawl that erupted after their semi-final loss to Colombia at the Bank of America Stadium during the ongoing Copa America 2024.
What Happened?
After Colombia secured a 1-0 victory to advance to the final against Argentina, a scuffle broke out between Uruguay players and Colombia fans. Videos of the incident, showing players climbing into the stands to confront fans, went viral on social media.
Players Involved
Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez and FC Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo were among the players involved in the brawl. Uruguay captain Jose Giminez stated that the players were trying to defend their families.
Coach Bielsa’s Defense
In a pre-match news conference, Bielsa said, “One has to speak thinking about all the threats he will receive if he speaks. So, the only thing I can tell you is that the players reacted the same way any human being would.” He added, “If you see what happened and there’s no other process to escape and they are attacking their girlfriends, their mothers, a baby, their wives, their mothers — what would you do?”
Investigation Launched
South American football’s governing body, CONMEBOL, has opened an investigation to understand the sequence of events that led to the scuffle. Bielsa questioned whether there would be sanctions for those who defended themselves, suggesting that journalists should be the ones to point out what happened.
Upcoming Match
After their 1-0 loss to Colombia, Uruguay will face Canada in the third-place playoff on Saturday.
