On July 13, the Uruguayan Football Association issued a statement saying that the players’ family members had not received the proper protection and that the players’ actions to protect their families were understandable.
The statement reads as follows:
In light of the events that occurred after the Copa America semi-final match between Uruguay and Colombia, the Uruguayan Football Association wishes to make the following comments. During this Copa America, the Uruguayan national team, both individually and collectively, has shown exemplary professionalism.
We have always respected the organizers, opponents, journalists, security personnel and fans, strictly adhering to the rules based on our values. On Wednesday, against a backdrop of verbal violence, provocation and attacks on Uruguayan fans, a conflict arose in the Uruguayan fan zone behind the Uruguayan bench and escalated, ultimately involving several players’ families and staff.
Faced with a tense situation in which women and children were in danger, several players went up into the stands to plead for their protection. It is important to note that Uruguayan fans were a very small proportion of those involved in the conflict, and the players’ families were not given the proper protection.
In light of the above facts and the security issues mentioned, the players’ attitude is unavoidable, and their emotional reaction is very natural.
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