Darwin Nunez will miss Uruguay’s next five matches after the Liverpool striker saw his appeal against a ban for a post-match brawl in last year’s Copa America rejected.
Nunez was among five Uruguay players banned for their actions in the wake of their semi-final loss to Colombia at Bank of America Stadium last July.
He clashed with Colombia fans in the stands in Charlotte, with Nunez and his teammates claiming they had done so to protect their families.
In addition to Nunez’s suspension, Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur must serve a four-game ban, with Jose Maria Gimenez, Mathias Olivera and Ronaldo Araujo all suspended for three matches.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed the appeals by the players and by the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF).
A CAS statement read: “The appeal by the Players and the AUF was subsequently heard remotely on 28 March 2025. Having heard the submissions of all Parties, the CAS Panel considered the Players’ argument that they acted under the principle of self-defence, as relatives of the Uruguayan football team were situated in the same sector where the altercation with Colombian fans occurred,” CAS said in a statement regarding the ruling.
“The Panel found that in this case, the principle of self-defence does not apply and that the conduct of the Players constituted a voluntary, violent and unjustified action, which was in violation of the CONMEBOL Disciplinary Code. Accordingly, the appeal has been dismissed and the Appealed Decision, including the sanctions on Players and the AUF, has been upheld in full.”
Nunez will miss the World Cup qualifiers with Paraguay and Venezuela in June and the qualifier with Peru in September.
