Following the player-fan clashes during Uruguay’s semi-final match against Colombia in the Copa America, Uruguay’s head coach Bielza launched a scathing attack on the tournament organizers.
In a pre-match press conference before Uruguay’s third-place playoff against Canada, Bielza stated, “We are in this country that claims to be ‘safe,’ but why aren’t they protecting our mothers, sisters, babies? If they can’t, they will be condemned by all of us.”
He angrily pointed out, “They say the pitch conditions are good and tell all sorts of lies. They say the training ground is perfect, but Bolivia couldn’t train, I have photos. They lie systematically, the training ground is a mess.”
“The stadiums are full, the competition fierce, but they cannot continue to deceive. The stadium authorities claim it’s a visual issue, Vinicius couldn’t see, Scaloni shouldn’t speak. They should come out and admit the training ground is terrible. Scaloni was told he could only say it once, not again. Everyone is being threatened. What will they do? Suspend them?”
The Uruguayan Football Association also released a statement defending themselves. It began, “Since arriving in the United States a month ago, the Uruguayan delegation has set an example and performed admirably.”
The Uruguayan Football Association defended the players involved in the clash with Colombian fans: “In light of these events and the mentioned safety issues, the players’ reactions were inevitable and natural.” The statement concluded, “This association, which has proudly upheld respect for civil conduct codes as its primary principle since its founding 124 years ago, firmly opposes any acts of violence in sports.”