FILE PHOTO: Jun 27, 2024; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Uruguay forward Darwin Nunez (19) celebrates his goal past Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra (23) during the first half of the Copa America match at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo
(Reuters) - Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez has been banned for five international matches while several other players were also suspended for their involvement in clashes with fans following Uruguay's Copa America loss to Colombia in July, South American soccer's governing body said on Wednesday.
Rodrigo Bentancur was banned for four games, while Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez, and Mathias Olivera each received three-game suspensions.
After Colombia sealed a 1-0 victory in the Copa semi-final, Uruguay players climbed into the stands and exchanged blows with opposition fans.
Uruguay captain Gimenez said the players were trying to defend their families.
The Uruguay FA was also fined $20,000, and 11 players in total were sanctioned for their involvement in the brawl. Nunez was fined $20,000, Bentancur $16,000, and Araujo, Olivera, and Gimenez $12,000 each.
The players will have to serve their suspensions in Uruguay's next official matches in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
They face Paraguay in Montevideo and Venezuela in Maturin in September; Peru (away) and Ecuador (home) in October; Colombia (home) and Brazil (away) in November.
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk and Fernando Kallas; Editing by Toby Davis)
