Topics: Uruguay, Marcelo Bielsa, Copa America, Colombia
Marcelo Bielsa has reacted furiously to Uruguay's players fighting in the stands at the Copa America and slammed the tournament organisers for allowing it to happen.
Uruguay were beaten by Colombia 1-0 at the competition's semi-final stage, after Jefferson Lerma's goal proved the difference.
Both teams ended the game with 10 men after Colombia's Daniel Munoz received a second yellow card, while Guillermo Varela was sent off deep into injury time for Uruguay.
But the game was marred by the scenes after full-time after scenes of fights in the stands between some fans and Uruguay players, including Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez.
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On the pitch, the result has meant Uruguay will take on Canada in the third-place play-off, with Colombia taking on World Cup winners Argentina in the final.
But the fall-out from the controversial outcome after full-time continues to rumble on, with former Liverpool striker Luiz Suarez's conversation with Colombia's Miguel Borja before furious scenes between both teams led to the confrontation with supporters in the stands.
The scenes in the stands took place as reportedly players came to defend the portion of the stadium where their friends and family were located, which was stormed by supporters.
Uruguay boss Bielsa has now revisited the episode in his pre-match press conference before the clash with Canada.
Former Leeds United boss Bielsa has taken aim at US Soccer and the whole CONMEBOL football federation for a lack of organisation which led to the ugly scenes after full-time.
As per the Mirror, Bielsa 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.
"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."
