Uruguayan FA Defends Player Brawl Due to Family Safety Concerns

The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) has released a statement condemning the brawl that occurred during Wednesday's Copa América semifinal, but also defending the actions of its players, citing the need to protect their families.

**Charlotte, North Carolina** - The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) has released a statement condemning the brawl that occurred during Wednesday's Copa América semifinal, but also defending the actions of its players, citing the need to protect their families.

Several Uruguayan players went into the stands at the end of their 1-0 loss to Colombia, and it turned ugly when cameras caught Uruguay players throwing punches at Colombia fans. Security at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, attempted to hold players back, but things were already getting too ugly.

Uruguayan FA Defends Player Brawl Due to Family Safety Concerns

Darwin Núñez appeared to throw several punches in videos of the brawl that have surfaced, while Uruguay defender José María Giménez also threw a punch.

Uruguayan players defended their actions, citing the ability to keep their families safe. The AUF agreed with the sentiment, saying (via Google translation) that the players' reactions were "inevitable and natural" due to their "nervousness and desperation."

Uruguayan FA Defends Player Brawl Due to Family Safety Concerns

"This Association, in its 124 years of existence, proudly privileges the maximum respect for the norms of citizen conduct, banishing all acts of violence in sports. Unfortunately, the events reported, which violated the healthy concept of family in a framework of lack of protection, generated an unjustified but humanly understandable reaction," the statement said in translation.

Defender José María Giménez told Fox Sports in a Spanish interview translated to English, "Please be careful because the families are in the stands. They stormed all our families, a certain sector of Colombia fans, and they won't let us speak on the microphone. I'm going to say it now because I know I can. Because if not, they'll cut you off.

Uruguayan FA Defends Player Brawl Due to Family Safety Concerns

"This is a disaster. Our families are in danger. We had to get on the top of the stands as soon as possible to rescue our loved ones with newborn babies. It was a disaster.

"I hope those who are organizing this are a little more careful with the families, with the people and with the people around in the stadiums. It's a disaster because all the matches are the same. The families are suffering because of some who drink one or two shots of alcohol that don't know how to drink who behave like children and are not decent."

The match was chippy from start to finish, with early yellow cards and a scuffle after the game.

Colombia will face Argentina in the final Sunday.

* The AUF's statement was released on Friday.

* The incident has been widely condemned by both fans and pundits.

* CONMEBOL, the South American football federation, is investigating the incident.

* The brawl is the latest in a series of incidents involving violence at football matches in recent years.

* The safety of players and fans at football matches is a major concern for authorities around the world.