'This is a witch hunt' - Marcelo Bielsa rages at Darwin Nunez suspension threat as Liverpool wait
The former Leeds United boss has passionately defended his players over the scenes following his side's 1-0 Copa America semi-final defeat to Colombia
Uruguay head Marcelo Bielsa was furious in his press conference ahead of his side's third-place match against Canada in the Copa America.
After his team were beaten 1-0 by Colombia earlier this week chaos ensued scuffles began to break out around the stadium leading Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez to enter the stands before he was involved in a physical altercation with Colombia supporters.
Nunez was enraged and could not contain his emotions amid the torrid events following the final whistle at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, USA. It has been suggested that Nunez could be handed a lengthy ban for his role in the unsavoury incident.
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In a statement released following the events, Copa America organisers CONMEBOL said: "CONMEBOL strongly condemns any act of violence that affects football. Our work is based on the conviction that football connects us and unites us, through its positive values. There is no place for intolerance and violence on and off the field. We invite everyone in the remaining days to pour all their passion into cheering on their teams and having an unforgettable party."
Now, former Leeds United manager Bielsa has slammed US Soccer and organisers of the tournament CONMEBOL federation for their poor planning. Both Uruguay players and staff were attacked after the semi-final fixture. A visibility irate Bielsa addressed the media, he said: "One has to speak thinking about all the threats that one receives if one speaks.
"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."
He did not stop there, he continued with his rant: "When you see that there is a violent act, of course who is going to be in favour 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.
"There is a portion of journalism that is bought. As I am not stupid, I said that I do not know in what proportion, but I do know that there is a percentage that does not say what it should say.
"I am innocent there because I am not accusing everyone, I am accusing those who remain silent."
According to the BBC, Bielsa further added: "How can you not defend your mother, your sister, a baby? If they did not do it, they would have been condemned by all of us."
Asked about potential sanctions for his players, Bielsa said: "The sanction does not have to be for the footballers, but for those who forced them to act like this.
"This is a witch hunt. It is a shame."
Earlier on Friday evening, the Uruguayan Football Association posted a statement, it said: "The Uruguayan Football Association delegation, present in the United States for more than a month, has been carrying out all activity in an exemplary manner, both in its personal and group attitude and in its public statements.
"Respect for the organisation, rivals, journalists, security personnel and general public has been constant, strickly complying with rules of the tournament and traditional values of our country.
"On Wednesday, under a context of verbal violence, provocation and various attacks, a group of Uruguayan fans located behind the substitutes' bench and technical area were involved in various skirmishes that escalated and triggered situations in which several families of players and staff members ended up being involved.
"Face with such a desperate situation, and in moments of nervousness and desperation in which women and children were held hostage, several players went up to the stands to intercede for their protection and defense.
"The event occurred in a context in which the proportion of Uruguayan fans was a minority, most families and there were not sufficient security mechanisms for this situation."
The incident is under investigation and potential punishments may be handed to those involved.
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