The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed an appeal by the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) and several players, confirming the suspensions handed out after a violent altercation during the 2024 Copa America semifinal against Colombia.
With the ruling upheld, Darwin Nunez, along with Rodrigo Bentancur, José María Giménez, Mathías Olivera, and Ronald Araújo, will miss key fixtures in Uruguay’s CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying campaign. Nunez and three teammates will sit out Uruguay’s next three qualifiers — against Paraguay and Venezuela in June, followed by Peru in September. He could return to action on 13 September when Uruguay face Chile in Santiago. Bentancur, however, will serve a longer four-match ban.
The incident stemmed from a post-match brawl following Uruguay’s 1-0 defeat in Charlotte, North Carolina. Several Uruguayan players went into the stands, engaging in physical confrontation with Colombian supporters. Giménez later claimed the players acted to protect their families. However, an independent investigation by CONMEBOL found the players guilty of violent conduct.
“The conduct of the Players constituted a voluntary, violent and unjustified action” – CAS stated
In its official decision, CAS stated: “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.”
“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.”
In addition to the suspensions, Bentancur has been fined $16,000, and the Uruguayan federation was also issued a $20,000 penalty.
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