The Copa America semifinal match between Uruguay and Colombia was full of tension that seeped into the stands following the final whistle. Some Uruguayan players made their way into the crowds of fans after the game ended and a fight broke out just off the field.
Colombia walked away with the victory 1-0, but some of its fans were not fully satisfied and stuck around to attend to some "unfinished business," whatever that might be. Several video angles caught some members of the Uruguayan squad throwing punches, and fans were getting into it, as well.
Check out some of the coverage and details of the fight below.
MORE: Highlights from Uruguay-Colombia semifinal match
Colombia-Uruguay fight video
Here are two different angles of the Uruguayan players getting into it with the Colombian fans at Bank of America Stadium.
After defeat to Colombia, Uruguayan players entered the stands at Bank of America Stadium and began to throw punches. Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez amongst those at the forefront. pic.twitter.com/VE3unKObSa
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 11, 2024
Uruguay players have entered the stands and a fight has broken out between fans and players pic.twitter.com/XRbte2ibiy
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 11, 2024
You can see punches being thrown at and by Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez in the scrum, as well as smaller skirmishes on the edges of the main fight in the middle. The throng ended up penetrating relatively deep into the stands, and it seemed to get out of hand at first.
Núñez actually climbed onto the scaffolding to get into the stands, seeming pretty eager to have a hand in the action, as seen in the video below.
Darwin Nunez 🇺🇾 climbs into the stands, puts up his dukes, and gets bopped in the head by a Colombia fan 🇨🇴 #CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/PhW9TbTlVD
— Charlotte Soccer Show (@ForTheCrownBaby) July 11, 2024
It got crazy in the semis!! Right in my section! Hope everybody is ok pic.twitter.com/oyDQM0d9Ik
— Lloyd sam (@MrLloydSam) July 11, 2024
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Why did Uruguay players enter stands to fight with Colombia fans?
Following the match, Uruguay captain Jose Maria Gimenez spoke to Spanish-language broadcaster TUDN about what happened after the match and why the Uruguayan players felt they had to jump into the stands.
"They made an avalanche on our family, a certain sector of the [fans] of Colombia," Gimenez said. "And they won't let us speak into the microphone. I'm going to say it now because otherwise they'll [the organizers] cut it later.
"Our families were in danger, we had to go into the stands to get our loved ones out, with small, newborn children. The policemen came after half an hour.
"We were standing up for ourselves, for our people. I hope that those who are organizing this are more careful with the families and with the [fans], it's a disaster, the same thing happens every match. Our families are suffering because of some [fans] who have two shots of alcohol and behave like children and have no decent sense of decency."
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Last time Uruguay won Copa America title
Uruguay is tied with Argentina for most Copa America titles at 15. Now, only Argentina will get the chance to compete for a sixteenth after beating Canada for a spot in the final. Uruguay's most recent title came in 2011 when it beat Paraguay 3-0 to secure the championship.