Members of Uruguay’s national soccer team engaged in a physical altercation with fans of their rival Colombia on Wednesday in a North Carolina stadium.
Members of Uruguay’s national soccer team engaged in a physical altercation with fans of their rival Colombia on Wednesday in the stands of the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The brawl began after Uruguay lost to Colombia in the semi-finals of the Copa América, the most prestigious regional soccer title and the oldest international men’s soccer tournament. The event takes place every four years and is run by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL). The United States is hosting this year’s tournament.
Colombia defeated Uruguay with a 1-0 score after Colombian player Jefferson Lerma scored a goal in the 39th minute in a match with only one brief incident of violence that resulted in a red card, or expulsion of a player from the match.
After the match ended, a brawl between members of Uruguay’s team and Colombian spectators broke out in the stands of the stadium. The altercation reportedly occurred in an area of the stands where friends and family members of the Uruguayan team sat near a group of Colombia fans.
Videos of the incident appeared to show Uruguayan player Darwin Núñez attempting to punch unidentified Colombia fans. Núñez had been expelled from the match after receiving a red card in response to his participation in a brief scuffle that took place before the end of the first half of the match.
