Liverpool Striker Nunez Banned For 5 Matches Over Copa America Incidents

Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez has been banned for five matches and fined by South American confederation CONMEBOL following his role in a mass brawl in the Copa America semi-final.

Four other players have been suspended, with 11 sanctioned overall, as a result of the investigation into the violence at the end of the clash between Uruguay and Colombia in Charlotte.

Reuters reports that Nunez was among the players who waded into the stands at the Bank of America Stadium and exchanged punches with fighting fans during a chaotic end to the game.

The forward’s punishment was the most severe of those handed out with the others given four matches or less along with fines.

Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who plays in England for Tottenham, was suspended for four matches, defender Mathias Olivera, Ronald Araujo and Jose Maria Gimenez all barred for three matches.

Nunez was fined $20,000 with the other players receiving fines ranging from $16,000 to $5,0000.

In addition, the Uruguayan Football Federation were fined $20,000 with the amount to be deducted from revenue and prize money.