In the heated aftermath of the Copa America semi-final soccer match between Colombia and Uruguay on July 11, 2024, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, a brawl broke out between players and fans from both teams. The incident began as Uruguayan players entered the stands to protect their families following their team's loss.
According to multiple sources,
Approximately a dozen Uruguay soccer players went into the stands after their 1-0 defeat against Colombia in the Copa America semifinals.
Security personnel had to remove Uruguay players from the stands due to altercations with Colombian fans.
Darwin Núñez, a Uruguayan player, was among those involved in the incident and reportedly hit a fan in Colombian team colors during the brawl.
José María Giménez, Uruguay's captain, entered the stands to protect his family and loved ones. He stated that their safety was at risk due to tensions between fans from both teams.
The altercation occurred despite known tensions between Uruguayan and Colombian supporters. Ignacio Alonso, president of the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF), believes there should have been a barrier separating the two groups of fans to prevent such incidents.
Uruguay players held their children on the pitch as they tried to deal with the situation. The incident took more than 10 minutes for police to restore order, and about 100 Uruguayan fans and staff members remained on the field for their protection after the game.
The Copa America tournament had been disorganized, with poor communication, branding, stadium operations, ticketing strategies, and heat management issues. Players complained about temporary grass surfaces and empty seats throughout the tournament. The chaos that unfolded in Charlotte was a result of these underlying problems and improper planning that left Uruguayan players' families in danger.
CONMEBOL released a statement strongly condemning any act of violence affecting the game.