Nunez, Bentancur among suspended Uruguay players after Copa America brawl

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — South American soccer body CONMEBOL suspended on Wednesday several Uruguayan internationals due to incidents at the Copa America semi-final against Colombia in July.

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez will be out for five Uruguay fixtures, while Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was banned for four matches. Mathias Olivera, Ronald Araujo and Jose Maria Gimenez will miss three games apiece.

Uruguay's next games in World Cup qualifying will be as host to Paraguay on Sept. 6 and four days later at Venezuela. Nunez will also miss the matches against Peru and Ecuador in October and the home game with Colombia in November.

The incident took place at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, with Uruguay players involved in a brawl with fans after their team lost 1-0 to Colombia. Nunez will also pay a fine of $20,000, Bentancur $16,000 and Olivera, Araujo and Gimenez $12,000 each.

Seven other Uruguay players will also pay a fine of $5,000 apiece.

Gimenez told journalists after the incident the team were trying to protect their families from Colombian supporters.

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