After a dramatic 1-0 victory for 10-man Colombia over Uruguay in the Copa America semi-final, tempers reached a boiling point. Following Guillermo Varela’s red card, several Uruguayan players, including Darwin Nunez, entered the stands to confront Colombian fans. The situation quickly escalated into a mass brawl, during which Nunez was struck by a fan and retaliated with punches.

In response to the violent scenes, CONMEBOL has launched an investigation. The clash saw objects thrown and some supporters injured, prompting Uruguay captain Jose Maria Gimenez to describe the near-chaotic situation as almost a “disaster.” Gimenez was also among the players who jumped into the stands during the melee.

CONMEBOL issued a stern statement regarding the incident: “The Disciplinary Committee of CONMEBOL has opened an investigation to understand the sequence of events and the responsibilities of those involved in the acts of violence that occurred at the end of the match between the national teams of Uruguay and Colombia.”

The statement continued, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the sport: “On the eve of the final of Copa America, we want to reaffirm and warn that no action will be tolerated that tarnishes this global football celebration, which involves both the players and the fans present in the stadium, and which will be watched by hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide. It is unacceptable that an incident like this turns passion into violence. Therefore, no behaviour that harms the sporting competition and the most beautiful spectacle in the world, which belongs to the entire football family, will be tolerated.”

Despite their Copa America hopes being dashed, Uruguay still have one more match to play. They will face Canada in the third-place play-off this weekend, hoping to salvage some pride from their tumultuous tournament.