The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Rejects Uruguay Players’ Appeal Over Copa América Fan Clash Bans
- Victor Nwoko
- May 13
- 2 min read
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeals of five Uruguay national team players against suspensions imposed for their involvement in a violent clash with fans during the 2024 Copa América semifinal in North Carolina. The players, who include prominent internationals such as Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez, Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo, and Atlético Madrid's José María Giménez, had argued they acted in self-defense to protect their families during the post-match incident.
The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) handed down bans ranging from three to five matches after the brawl erupted in the stands at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on July 10, 2024, following Uruguay’s 1-0 defeat to Colombia. Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur and Napoli defender Mathías Olivera were also sanctioned.
On Tuesday, CAS confirmed it upheld CONMEBOL’s original decision, rejecting the players’ defense. The panel ruled that the principle of self-defense was not applicable in this case and that the actions of the players were “voluntary, violent and unjustified.”
As a result, Núñez and the other sanctioned players will remain suspended and miss key fixtures in Uruguay’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Uruguay, coached by Marcelo Bielsa, resumes qualifiers with an away match against Paraguay on June 5, followed by a home game against Venezuela on June 10.
Uruguay is currently in third place in the 10-team South American qualifying group, holding a six-point advantage over seventh-placed Venezuela. The top six teams in the standings will earn direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the seventh-place finisher will face an intercontinental playoff scheduled for March 2026.
The incident and subsequent suspensions have added pressure to Uruguay’s campaign, though the team remains in a strong position to return to the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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