Liverpool’s Nunez gets five-match ban from Uruguay

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has been banned for five matches for a confrontation with spectators after his national team Uruguay lost to Colombia.

Nunez, 25, was physically confronted by Colombian fans in the stands after the final whistle in the Copa America semi-final in July.

The player was also fined £15,145 ($20,000).

South American football’s governing body Conmebol released a statement on Wednesday saying five players, including Nunez, have been suspended and 11 fined for their roles in the altercation.

Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, 27, has been suspended for four matches.

Napoli defender Mathias Olivera (26), Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo (25) and Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez (29) have all been suspended for three matches.

Conmebol had launched an investigation into the “unacceptable” scenes. The incident broke out in a part of the stadium where many relatives of the Uruguayan players were sitting.

Nunez climbed over the railing and reached the packed grandstand.

“There was no police and we had to defend our families,” Gimenez said at the time.

“This is the fault of two or three people who have had a little too much to drink and don’t know how to drink.”

The suspensions are a setback for Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa, the former Leeds United manager, whose team are involved in several 2026 World Cup qualifying matches in September and October.

On September 6, Uruguay will play a qualifying match against Paraguay in Montevideo.