Uruguay's Marcelo Bielsa rips U.S., Copa América organizers after fight - ESPN

Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa defended his players' involvement in clashes with Colombia fans following their Copa América semifinal match at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, before criticizing the U.S. and CONMEBOL over the organization of the competition.

Following Uruguay's semifinal loss, players could be seen climbing into the stands to fight with opposing fans. Darwin Núñez and Ronaldo Araújo were among those involved, while captain José María Giménez said the players were simply trying to defend family members.

However, South America soccer's governing body, CONMEBOL, has announced an investigation into the incidents, which also saw players from Colombia and Uruguay involved in a confrontation on the field after the final whistle.

«One has to speak thinking about all the threats he will receive if he speaks,» an angry Bielsa said in a prematch news conference on Friday. «So, the only thing I can tell you is that the players reacted the same way any human being would.

»If you see what happened happen and there's [no other process to escape] and they are attacking their girlfriends, their mothers, a baby, their wives, their mothers — what would you do?"

The former Leeds United manager went on to attack media coverage of the incidents.

«Are you asking if there's going to be sanctions to the ones that went to defend?» he said. «It's a level of complicity, because the questions also act as a way to accomplice, I don't know if all of you think the same way, if the question you ask wouldn't be made by someone else, but this is what you journalists should be saying, not what I should be saying, with the risk of opening my mouth.

»When you see that there's an overreaction, when you see a violent