Darwin Nunez: Liverpool striker will have to serve remainder of ban for Uruguay after Cas decision

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has been ordered to serve the remainder of a ban for his involvement in an altercation with fans while playing for Uruguay.

The sanction was confirmed as an appeal against the ban was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

In August 2024, Nunez was banned by South American football’s governing body Conmebol for five international games, and fined £15,145 ($20,000), for an incident with spectators after Uruguay were beaten by Colombia.

The 25-year-old was seen physically confronting Colombia supporters in the stands after the final whistle in the Copa America semi-final in July 2024.

Nunez served two matches of the ban before Cas agreed to temporarily lift the suspension in October 2024 while the case against him was investigated following an appeal by the Uruguay Football Association.

Four other Uruguay players were also handed bans, and fined, for their involvement in the incident at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, USA, all of which have been now been served.

Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, 27, received a four-game suspension.

Napoli defender Mathias Olivera, 27, Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, 26, and Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez, 30, received three-game bans.

The appeal by the Uruguay FA had sought to annul or reduce the suspensions and fines on the grounds the players acted in self-defence, but that was dismissed by Cas.

“The panel found that in this case the principle of self-defence does not apply,” said a statement from Cas.

“The conduct of the players constituted a voluntary, violent and unjustified action which was in violation of the Conmebol disciplinary code.”

Nunez will now sit out Uruguay’s World Cup qualifiers in Paraguay and at home to Venezuela next month, along with the match against Peru in September.