Uruguay's Darwin Nunez Suspended for Five Games Following Copa America Incidents

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Liverpool's Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez has been handed a five-match ban and fined by the South American confederation CONMEBOL following his involvement in a mass altercation during the Copa America semi-final. The incident occurred during the intense match between Uruguay and Colombia in Charlotte, where Nunez, along with four other players, was seen engaging in a physical altercation with fans in the stands at the Bank of America Stadium. In total, 11 individuals have been sanctioned as a result of the investigation into the violence that marred the end of the game.

The forward's punishment was the most severe of those handed out with the others given four matches or less along with fines.

Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who plays in England for Tottenham, was suspended for four matches, defender Mathias Olivera, Ronald Araujo and Jose Maria Gimenez all barred for three matches.

Nunez was fined $20,000 with the other players receiving fines ranging from $16,000 to $5,0000.

Six other players received only fines.

In addition, the Uruguayan Football Federation were fined $20,000 with the amount to be deducted from revenue and prize money.

Uruguay central defender Gimenez said players had leapt into the melee out of concern for the safety of family members and loved ones watching the game in that section of the ground.

The punishments are open to appeal but CONMEBOL statement did not state when the suspensions, which cover games organised by CONMEBOL and not domestic competitions, would begin.

Uruguay are scheduled to play a friendly against Guatemala in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday and then head into World Cup qualifiers at home to Paraguay on September 6 and away to Venezuela on September 10.

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Colombia won the game 1-0 but lost the final to Argentina.

(This story has not been edited by staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)