Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has been ordered to serve the remaining three matches of a five-match international ban following the rejection of his appeal by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The suspension stems from an altercation with Colombian fans after Uruguay’s 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Copa America semi-final last July. Nunez, along with four other Uruguay players, was initially banned and fined £15,145 ($20,000) by CONMEBOL for their involvement in the incident.
After serving two matches, Nunez’s ban was temporarily lifted following an appeal by the Uruguayan Football Association, allowing him to participate in recent World Cup qualifiers. However, CAS has now dismissed the appeal, ruling that the players’ actions were voluntary, violent, and unjustified, and that the claim of self-defense did not apply. Consequently, Nunez will miss Uruguay’s upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Paraguay, Venezuela, and Peru.
Uruguay’s manager Marcelo Bielsa had defended the players at the time, emphasizing their protective instincts toward their families amid the crowd trouble. Despite this, CAS’s decision stands, requiring Nunez to complete his suspension. The other four banned Uruguay players, including Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur, have already served their suspensions and are available for selection.
Uruguay currently sits third in the South American World Cup qualifying standings and could secure a spot in the 2026 tournament without Nunez in the next three fixtures. This ruling represents a significant setback for both the player and his national team as they pursue qualification.