A post-game altercation between fans and players following a Copa America 2024 semifinal matchup has left the tournament with a black eye. Colombia outlasted Uruguay on the pitch to advance to a mouthwatering matchup against Argentina in the tournament final. La Tricolor held on to an early lead despite going down to 10 men ahead of halftime. They will now face Lionel Messi’s team on Sunday, July 14th for the title.
While the game was certainly tense throughout the 90 minutes, pressure boiled over into the stands following the final whistle. Moments after the game ended, Uruguayan players were seen rushing to a lower section of the stadium to fight Colombian fans. Initial reactions to the unfortunate scene were to lambast the professional athletes from taking part in the melee. Nevertheless, more information regarding the situation eventually came to the surface.
According to those close to the situation, the skirmish started because a group of Colombian fans were targeting the families of Uruguay’s players. Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez was one of the more noticeable stars to partake in the fight. He, however, was certainly not alone. Barcelona‘s Ronaldo Araujo and Atletico Madrid center-back Jose Maria Gimenez were also among the players to be seen fighting with the Colombian fans.
Uruguay star says players were protecting family members
After the incident, Gimenez spoke on camera to better explain the issue. “Colombian fans in a certain section descended on all our families,” proclaimed the defender. “They won’t let us speak on the microphone. This is a disaster, our families were in danger. We had to rush into the stands to remove our loved ones with tiny newborn babies.”
“It’s a total disaster. There wasn’t a single police officer. They showed up half an hour later. A disaster. And we were there, standing up for ourselves, for our loved ones. Hopefully, organizers take a little more precautions with our families, with…
Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/copa-america/2026-world-cup-copa-america-raises-security-concerns/
Author : Chris Moore
Publish date : 2024-07-11 16:40:44
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