DARWIN NUNEZ bravely leapt into the crowd to protect his family from “drunken” Copa America yobs.
Ugly scenes occurred in the stands after Uruguay‘s semi-final defeat to Colombia early on Thursday morning.
The Uruguayans were dumped out of the tournament after a 1-0 defeat in Charlotte, North Carolina.
But their immediate concern after the final whistle turned to the safety of their family members as they were bombarded by “avalanches” by “boozed-up” Colombia supports.
Nunez and several of his team-mates waded into the crowd to protect their loved ones as drinks and other projectiles were thrown.
Security eventually intervened and separated Nunez, Jose Gimenez and Ronald Araujo from the rival fans.
According to journalist Favian Renkel, Uruguay players’ families were escorted out of the stadium in a separate exit to ensure their safety.
When the dust had settled, Liverpool hitman Nunez was seen holding his young daughter on the pitch.
Atletico Madrid defender Giminez fumed at the lack of security around the players’ family members in an explosive post-match interview.
He said: “Let me say something before they cut you off because they won’t let us speak into the microphone.
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“They don’t want me to say anything about what’s going on but this is a disaster.
“Please be careful, our families are in the stands, there are little newborn babies.
“It was a disaster; there was no police and we had to defend our families.
“This is the fault of two or three people who had a few too many drinks and don’t know how to drink.”
Uruguay stopper Sergio Rochet defended his team-mate’s actions, saying of the incident: “This could have been avoided.
“I thought this came about from where the families of players was sitting.
“When you see your family there there…we wanted to take our families out of there.”
Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa didn’t see the mass melee as he had already made his to the dressing room.
He said: “I thought that the incident ended with some argument on the midfield and when I saw that happening I went to the locker room.
“I thought that they were thanking the fans for their support.
“But then I learned that there were some problems over there, unfortunately.”
The South American football federation has condemned the ugly scenes and has vowed to launch an immediate investigation.
A CONMEBOL statement read: “Our work is based on the conviction that soccer connects and unites us through its positive values.
“There is no place for intolerance and violence on and off the field.”
Colombia will play Argentina in Sunday’s final in Florida.
