Uruguay skipper Diego Lugano on Friday praised Copa America organisers for electing not to suspend players from final rivals Paraguay for their role in a post semi-final flare-up with Venezuela. "It's well and good they are not to be suspended. I agree with that decision. I am a footballer and will always support footballers," Lugano told a news conference in Buenos Aires.
On Sunday, Uruguay will be going for a 15th crown in the continental final against twice champions Paraguay, who just crept past Venezuela on penalties. That match ended with fisticuffs and organisers CONMEBOL has fined both nations involved $10,000.
CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation, is headed by Paraguayan Nicolas Leoz, but Lugano said he could not say if the latter had had any say in the decision not to suspend of his countrymen from the final. "I don't know if Paraguay has any political power - and that does not interest me," he said.
But Venezuela coach Cesar Farias said that organisers "should have punished those who sparked it off." Farias, speaking in Buenos Aires ahead of Saturday's third place playoff against Peru at nearby La Plata, said the "lack of sanctions surprises me... I wonder if the same thing would have happened had Venezuela got to the final."
"We are ten members of the South American Confederation and everyone should be dealt with even-handedly. These images went around the world and they were disgraceful," said Farias, in respect of the post-match altercation. Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino is suspended from the bench after organisers studied the match report of Mexican referee Francisco Chacon, who dismissed him from the dugout for arguing with the fourth official and clashing with Farias.
"I acknowledge I made a mistake," said Martino, who had already served one ban after Colombian match official Roldan Wilmar sent him off in the group game with Brazil. Although the organisers have opted for leniency on the post-match scuffle, Paraguay will have midfielder Jonathan Santana suspended as he was sent off in the semi. Martino's assistant Jorge Pautasso is also banned and deputy assistant coach Adrian Coria will be on the bench Sunday.