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Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa has slammed CONMEBOL over the organization of the Copa America 2024 in the US, calling them "a plague of liars."
Many players and managers have been critical of the quality of pitches used at the tournament. However, CONMEBOL has defended the tournament’s organization, saying that they began installing temporary pitches a year in advance.
At his press conference ahead of Uruguay’s bronze medal match against Canada on Saturday (July 13), Bielsa launched a scathing attack on CONMEBOL.
“They've said that the pitches are in perfect condition and all the lies they have said here, doing a press conference to say that the pitches are perfect and you see how the grass patches won't work," Bielsa said (via ESPN).
"And they said the training facilities are perfect, but Bolivia couldn't train and I have pictures to prove that it's all lies, this is a plague of liars.”
He added:
“They are threatening us, you’ll see. Scaloni dared to criticize the state of the pitches only once. The Americans won't tell you, 'I'll give you a perfect pitch.' They'll tell you, 'I'll give you a pitch put together three days ago,' and the joints between grass patches don't fit together.”
“Look for a play on yesterday's game inside the box and you'll see how the ball double-taps and it's because of that. And the training facilities were a disaster and Bolivia couldn't train but they said, 'It's fine, it's Bolivia.'”
Bielsa has also spoken out against the lack of security at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, where Uruguay players clashed with fans following their semi-final loss against Colombia.
Marcelo Bielsa defends Uruguay players’ involvement in clash with fans following Copa America 2024 semi-final defeat vs Colombia
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa has defended his players’ actions following their defeat to Colombia in the Copa America 2024 semi-final on Wednesday (July 10). The former Leeds United manager also criticized the lack of security at the venue.
Colombia beat Uruguay 1-0 to book their place in the final against Argentina on Sunday. Jefferson Lerma scored the only goal of the game in the 39th minute.
According to reports, Colombia fans mobbed the section where the Uruguay players’ friends and family were seated. Darwin Nunez and Ronald Araujo were among the Uruguay players seen fighting with the fans in the stands.
Addressing the incident, Bielsa said (via ESPN):
“One has to speak thinking about all the threats he will receive if he speaks. So, the only thing I can tell you is that the players reacted the same way any human being would.”
He added:
“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?”
CONMEBOL has launched an investigation into the incident. The Copa America final will be held on Sunday, July 14 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida between Argentina and Colombia.
