Liverpool star Darwin Nunez has been handed a five-match ban by CONMEBOL for his part in a Copa America brawl. The Uruguay striker jumped into a crowd of supporters at the tournament earlier this summer and will miss his country's next five games.
Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has also been punished by the governing body for South American football.
The incident occurred after Uruguay were beaten 1-0 by Colombia in the Copa America semi-final. Nunez was one of a number of players to make their way into the crowd, allegedly to protect loved ones.
Ugly scenes ensued and a security guard was forced to stop Nunez from throwing a plastic chair. Alongside a five-match ban, the 25-year-old has been fined £15,000.
Bentancur has been given a four-match ban and a £12,000 fine. Three other Uruguay players, Mathias Olivera, Ronald Araujo and Josema Gimenez, were all handed three-game bans and fined £9,000 each. The suspensions only affect international football, meaning Nunez will be available to play for Liverpool and Bentancur for Tottenham.
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Atletico Madrid defender Gimenez fumed over the lack of security for the families of his team-mates. He blamed the chaos on a lack of police.
"Let me say something before they cut you off because they won't let us speak into the microphone,” he said.
“They don't want me to say anything about what's going on but this is a disaster. Please be careful, our families are in the stands, there are little newborn babies.
“It was a disaster - there was no police and we had to defend our families. This is the fault of two or three people who had a few too many drinks and don't know how to drink."
Meanwhile, Nunez has played only 18 minutes during Arne Slot's first two matches as Liverpool head coach. The former Benfica player was an unused substitute during the opening day victory over Ipswich, before appearing late on in Sunday's triumph against Brentford.
Slot has preferred Diogo Jota as the focal point of his front three, with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz wide of the Portugal international. Cody Gakpo is also battling with Nunez for game time in Liverpool's attack.
Chelsea have been loosely linked with a move for Nunez this summer but that seems unlikely to materialise in the final days of the transfer window. The Blues' pursuit of a new striker could see them land either Ivan Toney or Victor Osimhen before Friday's deadline.
