Darwin Nunez has spoken publicly for the first time since being involved in a brawl with fans following the Copa America semi-final between Uruguay and Colombia.
The Liverpool striker was at the center of the fight in the stands as Uruguay players clashed with Colombia supporters in North Carolina. Nunez was seen climbing into the stands before clashing with fans, leading to him being punched by one of them.
The chaos broke out following Uruguay's 1-0 defeat to Colombia. Players' families were lifted onto the pitch for safety , with Nunez leading a group of his teammates into the stands to clash with supporters.
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The 25-year-old was later seen comforting his young son on the pitch , while Liverpool teammate Luis Diaz and Luis Suarez consoled him as he still looked shaken up by the incident.
Posting on Instagram following the tournament, and for the first time since the incident, Nunez said: "My first @CopaAmerica. Sad that I didn't make it to the end, glad for what I experienced, learned and shared. This continues, come on Uruguay always!"
Nunez avoided any immediate punishment following the brawl, and played in the third-place playoff on Saturday as Uruguay beat Canada on penalties to end their tournament on a high .
The Liverpool ace though is one of 11 players being investigated for their part in the fracas , with Nunez potentially facing a lengthy ban .
In a statement, South America governing body CONMEBOL denounced the fighting, saying: "Given the acts of violence that occurred at the end of the match between the Uruguayan and Colombian national teams, the CONMEBOL Disciplinary Unit has decided to open a file to elucidate the sequence of events and the responsibilities of those involved.
"It is unacceptable that an event like the one that occurred on this occasion turns passion into violence. Therefore, any attitude that violates sporting competition and the most beautiful spectacle in the world that belongs to the entire family will not be tolerated."
Nunez though has been backed by the Uruguayan FA , with the national side's manager Marcelo Bielsa also offering his support . "One has to speak thinking about all the threats that one receives if one speaks," Bielsa said.
"The only thing I can say is that the players reacted as any human being would have done. If they are attacking his wife, his mother, a baby, his wife, his sister...
"What do you do? Do you ask if they are going to sanction those who went to defend? There is a degree of complicity, because the questions also act in a complicit manner. You (the journalists) have to say this, not what I have to say.
“When you see that there is a violent act, of course who is going to be in favor of a violent reaction, but the first thing you have to see is what the reaction is in response to, and if there would have been the possibility of doing it differently.”
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