Uruguay's Copa América journey in 2024 ended on a tumultuous note beyond their loss to Colombia. Following the semifinal defeat, chaos erupted at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte as Uruguay players, led by Darwin Núñez, confronted Colombian fans in the stands, resulting in a violent altercation. Videos captured the intense brawl, highlighting Núñez among those actively involved in the scuffle.
The incident stemmed from alleged harassment of Uruguay players' families by Colombian fans earlier, according to Uruguay's José María Giménez. He spoke out, demanding improved security measures from tournament organizers to prevent such occurrences in the future.
CONMEBOL, the tournament organizer, condemned the violence in a brief statement released afterward, acknowledging the severity of the situation.
Uruguay's disappointment at missing out on the final and facing Canada in the third-place match was compounded by the brawl's aftermath. The team, favored to win against Colombia, struggled throughout the match despite a late advantage when Colombia played with ten men after Daniel Muñoz was sent off. Despite their efforts, Uruguay couldn't capitalize on scoring opportunities, leading to frustration and a regrettable end to their Copa América campaign.