Uruguay coach suspended for violating punctuality rules

Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa has been banned for one match by CONMEBOL after his team arrived late on the pitch in their 5-0 win over Bolivia on Thursday.

The South American Football Confederation also fined the Uruguayan Football Federation $15,000 after Bielsa’s team failed to comply with articles 104 and 145 of the tournament’s rules, which relate to entering the field of play “later than the scheduled start or restart time,” CONMEBOL said in a statement on Sunday. Bielsa, 68, will not be on the bench when his team face the United States in their final Group C match at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Monday, with Uruguay all but securing a place in the last eight.

The former Leeds United manager is the fourth coach to be suspended for the same reason at this year’s Copa America, following Argentine Lionel Scaloni, Chilean coach Ricardo Gareca and Venezuelan coach Fernando Batista. Uruguay’s assistant coach Diego Reyes told a press conference that the Copa America is a very tough tournament in this regard.

“These sanctions are never well received because they have a negative impact on the team. We took the necessary precautions in the last match (to avoid delays) but there were still uncertainties that could not be cleared up,” he said. “There is a lot going on in a dressing room during a match and in this tournament they were very strict in this short period of time.”

Uruguay, who have six points, face the United States in their final group match on Monday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Reyes added that despite Bielsa’s absence, they will approach the match against the hosts “as if it were our last.” “We have to put in our best performance. The United States are a very important opponent, they have players from the best leagues in the world and they have been doing well for a long time under the current coach.”

“Like all teams, they have their ups and downs. They have borne the burden of big games. They have a balanced squad with players who have played together for a long time, which makes them an important and always difficult opponent,” he said. Uruguay would advance to the quarter-finals as group winners if they avoid defeat against the United States, while they would likely advance even if they lost due to goal difference.

But Gregg Berhalter

The U.S. team will be desperate to win against the 15-time champions, but a loss or draw would leave the U.S. hoping for the result of the other Group C match between Bolivia and Panama to secure a place in the quarterfinals.

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