Argentina players 'concerned' about families safety ahead the Copa América final

MIAMI — A day after Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa blasted CONMEBOL, South American soccer's governing body, for its staging of the 2024 Copa América in the United States, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez backed Bielsa's assessment of the organizers' shortcomings before Sunday's final against Colombia (8 p.m. ET, FOX and the FOX Sports app).

Notably, the pair expressed fear that there could be a repeat of the security failure that put Uruguayan players and their loved ones in harm's way following Wednesday's semifinal loss to Los Cafeteros.

"I hope nothing like that happens tomorrow," Scaloni said on Saturday during Argentina's pre-match press confrence. "My family is going to be there, the family of every player is going to be there. We can't be worrying."

Despite all the world-class players and teams on display at packed stadiums across the U.S. over the last three-plus weeks, the organization of USA 2024 has been plagued by problems ever since the opening match between Argentina and Canada in Atlanta on June 20.

Martínez took aim at the shoddy temporary grass field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after that game, and the complaints about the pitch conditions at other venues have remained consistent throughout the competition. The list of other grievances is a long one: amateurish officiating, third-rate television production (which CONMEBOL handles in-house), non-existent marketing and exorbitant ticket prices for fans.

But CONMEBOL's most shameful dereliction of duty by far was laid bare for the entire world to see in the moments after Wednesday's semi between Uruguay and Colombia in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Following the latter's 1-0 win, a brawl broke out in the stands near where the