A number of Uruguayan players, including Darwin Nunez, appeared to clash with Colombian fans after the semifinal of Copa America on Wednesday night.
Following the game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina altercations broke out between supporters in the stands with players entering the area where their families were situated in the stadium.
Liverpool forward Nunez was among those caught up in the incident with Ronald Araujo of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez also pictured nearby.
Video footage appeared to show Colombian fans clash with Uruguay supporters and players with objects, including drinks cans, thrown.
Security personnel then appeared to intervene before the players returned to the field alongside some family members who followed.
Players including Nunez were visibly shaken by the incident. He was later pictured being consoled by Liverpool team-mate Luis Diaz and Uruguay’s Luis Suarez on the pitch.
Nunez was consoled by Luis Suarez after the incident (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Gimenez, who captained Uruguay in the game, later told the television broadcast that players feared for their families’ safety
“It’s a total disaster. There wasn’t a single police officer,” Gimenez claimed. “They showed up half an hour later. A disaster. And we were there, standing up for ourselves, for our loved ones.”
Police officials were shown in footage circulated of the incident involving the players.
“Hopefully organizers take a little more precautions with our families, with the people and those around the stadiums. Because this happens every game,” Gimenez continued.
“Our families are suffering because of some people who have a few drinks and don’t know how to drink, who act like children. Hopefully, they’ll take more precautions for the next game so this doesn’t happen again, because this is a disaster.”
Uruguay lost the game 1-0 and will next play in the tournament’s third-place playoff match, in the same stadium, against Canada on Saturday.
Additional reporting: Felipe Cardenas, Melanie Anzidei
More follows.
(Top photo: Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
