Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur and Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez could face lengthy bans after being involved in post-match brawls following Uruguay’s elimination from the Copa America.
Bentancur was recently seen joining the melee, marking a night to forget for the 27-year-old. CONMEBOL is investigating the incident, which could jeopardize the duo’s Premier League future.
Chaos erupted after Uruguay’s 1-0 semi-final loss to Colombia, with Jose Gimenez accusing Colombian supporters of threatening the families of Uruguay’s players, saying: “They stormed all our families. This is a disaster. Our family is in danger.”
Nunez was initially identified in the brawl, but Bentancur has since been seen hurling bottles into the stands, accidentally hitting his team’s physical trainer, Santiago Ferro. FIFA is considering a global ban on those involved, which could mean Nunez and Bentancur miss the start of the Premier League season.
After being substituted due to injury and Uruguay failing to equalize, Bentancur’s night worsened when new footage showed him throwing two bottles into the crowd in Charlotte, North Carolina. One bottle struck a member of Uruguay’s staff, causing injury.
Despite security attempting to quell the chaos, the situation escalated. Alongside Nunez and up to nine other Uruguayan players, Bentancur faces a potential global ban from CONMEBOL, the South American Football Confederation.
Although still under investigation, it seems likely that both Nunez and Bentancur will face lengthy bans. CONMEBOL issued a statement condemning the violence: “Our work is based on the conviction that soccer connects and unites us through its positive values. There is no place for intolerance and violence on and off the field.”
With the Premier League starting in mid-August, this potential ban will affect both players’ availability for their clubs’ opening games. Liverpool is set to visit Ipswich Town, while Tottenham will face Leicester City.
