Bielsa blames Copa America organisers for post-match brawl
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa criticized Copa America organizers on Friday, attributing the brawl between his players and Colombian fans to poor management following their semi-final exit.
Speaking before Saturday’s third-place playoff against Canada, Bielsa expressed anger over CONMEBOL’s disciplinary actions following the violent aftermath of Uruguay’s 1-0 defeat to Colombia on Wednesday.
Liverpool star Darwin Nunez and several Uruguay players were seen fighting with Colombian fans after the match. The players defended their actions, claiming they were protecting family members who were attacked by Colombian supporters at the Bank of America Stadium.
As many as a dozen Uruguayan players are under investigation by CONMEBOL following the incident, a fact that has incensed veteran coach Bielsa.
“The players reacted like any human being would have done,” Bielsa said at a press conference. “If you see your wife, mother, sister, or baby being attacked, and no one is helping, what are they supposed to do? And they are going to punish the people who came to defend them?”
The violence erupted at the final whistle and continued for several minutes until police intervened. Bielsa argued that tournament organizers should be held accountable for not ensuring the safety of players’ families.
“There were mothers with babies in their arms, wives, and sisters being attacked. The protection of the spectator has nothing to do with the football team or the federation. You know who is responsible for that,” he said. “Any sanctions should not be for the footballers, but for those who forced them to act the way they did. They had no choice.”
Bielsa also criticized the organizational aspects of the Copa America, including sub-standard playing surfaces and inadequate training pitches provided during the tournament, which was held in the United States and expanded to include CONCACAF nations.
(Source: AFP)
