Uruguay Players Involved In Clashes With Colombian Fans After The 2024 Copa America Semifinals

Uruguay players involved clashed with Colombia supporters (X/The Athletic).

JAKARTA - A number of Uruguayan players clashed with Colombia supporters after the 2024 Copa America semifinal match on Thursday, July 11, 2024, morning WIB.

After the match at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, there was an argument between Colombian supporters in the stands and Uruguayan players who wanted to visit their family areas on the field.

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez was among those caught in the incident. Ronald Araujo (Barcelona) and Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez were also seen near Nunez.

Video footage shows Colombian fans clashing with Uruguay supporters and players throwing objects, including drink cans.

Security officers then intervened to intervene before the players returned to the field with several family members who followed.

The players including Nunez seem shaken by the incident. He was later described as being entertained by his Liverpool teammates, Luis Diaz, and Uruguay veteran Luis Suarez.

Gimenez, who captained Uruguay in the match, said players were concerned about the safety of their family.

"The Colombian Fans in certain parts come down to our whole family. They don't allow us to talk through the microphone."

"This is a disaster, our family is in danger. We have to rush to the stands to move our loved ones with newborns," said Gimenez as reported by The Athletic.

An eyewitness spoken to by The Athletic reported incidents of isolated chaos among Colombia and Uruguay supporters during the match. Most can be overcome.

Police officers were then shown in the circulating footage of the incident involving the players.

"It's really a disaster. Not a single police officer. They appeared half an hour later. A disaster. We were there, defending ourselves, for the sake of our loved ones," said Gimenez again.

The 2024 Copa America semifinal match between Uruguay vs Colombia ended 0-1. Los Cafeteros has the right to advance to the final to meet Argentina through Jefferson Lerma's single goal.

"Hopefully the organizers can be more careful with our family and the people around the stadium. Because this happens in every game."

"Our family is suffering because some people drink a little and don't know how to drink, act like children."

"Hopefully they will be more careful in the next match so that something similar doesn't happen again, because this is a disaster," said Gimenez.