FOOTBALL – COPA AMÉRICA 2024
THE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT DENIES AN APPEAL BY URUGUAYAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND THE URUGUAYAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (AUF) AGAINST CONMEBOL SANCTIONS
Lausanne, 13 May 2025 - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has denied an appeal by Darwin Núñez Ribeiro (Darwin Núñez), Ronald Araujo Da Silva, José María Giménez de Vargas, Rodrigo Betancur Colman, Mathías Olivera Miramontes (“the Players”) and the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) against the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) concerning sanctions imposed during the CONMEBOL Copa América USA 2024 (Copa América).
The appeal challenged a decision by the CONMEBOL Appeal Committee (“Appealed Decision”) issued on 23 September 2024 that maintained sanctions for the Players (3 to 5 match suspensions and fines up to USD 20’000) and the AUF (USD 20’000 fine) following a violent altercation at the end of a Copa América semifinal between Uruguay and Colombia, played on 10 July 2024 in Charlotte, USA. Several members of the Uruguayan football team, including the Players, became involved in the altercation between Colombian fans, AUF technical delegates and Uruguayan fans which led to the evacuation of 100 people. The appeal sought to annul the match suspensions on the Players, annul the fines on both the AUF and the Players, or in the alternative, have all sanctions reduced.
On 4 October 2024, CAS granted a request by Darwin Núñez and the AUF for Provisional Measures to suspend his sanctions whilst the case was under consideration. The appeal by the Players and the AUF was subsequently heard remotely on 28 March 2025.
Having heard the submissions of all Parties, the CAS Panel considered the Players’ argument that they acted under the principle of self-defence, as relatives of the Uruguayan football team were situated in the same sector where the altercation with Colombian fans occurred. The Panel found that in this case, the principle of self-defence does not apply and that the conduct of the Players constituted a voluntary, violent and unjustified action, which was in violation of the CONMEBOL Disciplinary Code. Accordingly, the appeal has been dismissed and the Appealed Decision, including the sanctions on Players and the AUF, has been upheld in full.
This is an unofficial summary for media use. Unless Parties request confidentiality, a full Award with reasons will be made available on the CAS website in due course.
For further information related to the CAS activity and procedures in general, please contact either Matthieu Reeb, CAS Director General, or Vanessa Tracey, Communications Officer. Palais de Beaulieu, av. Bergières 10, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland
