Liverpool forward Darwin Núñez has been ordered to complete the remainder of his international suspension following an incident involving fans while representing Uruguay.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the original punishment issued by South American football’s governing body, CONMEBOL, after rejecting an appeal filed by the Uruguayan Football Association.
Núñez was initially handed a five-match ban and fined £15,145 ($20,000) in August 2024 after clashing with Colombia supporters in the stands following Uruguay’s Copa América semi-final defeat in July 2024.
Although the 25-year-old had already served two games of the suspension, CAS temporarily lifted the ban in October 2024 pending a full review. That review has now been concluded, and Núñez must serve the outstanding ban in Uruguay’s next three matches.
Four other Uruguayan players also received suspensions and fines for their roles in the altercation at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, USA.
Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was given a four-match ban, while defenders Mathías Olivera (Napoli), Ronald Araújo (Barcelona), and José María Giménez (Atlético Madrid) were each suspended for three games.
All have now served their respective bans.
The Uruguayan FA argued the players acted in self-defence, but CAS ruled that the principle did not apply in this instance.
“The panel found that the players’ actions were voluntary, violent, and unjustified, in violation of CONMEBOL’s disciplinary code,” CAS said in a statement.
As a result, Núñez will miss Uruguay’s World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Venezuela in June, as well as the fixture against Peru in September.
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