Liverpool star ordered to serve five-match international ban after losing appeal following altercation with fans

A Liverpool player has lost his appeal against a five-match ban after taking his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

Uruguay's Darwin Nunez was involved in a confrontation with Colombia fans following last July's Copa America semi-final, which Colombia won 1-0 to advance to the final.

He was subsequently hit with a lengthy suspension and fined £15,145 ($20,000).

Nunez was one of five Uruguay players who were banned for their actions, but after only serving two matches of his suspension, the ban was temporarily lifted following an appeal by the Uruguay Football Association.

Cas have now reviewed the incident and rejected Nunez's appeal, meaning he will have to sit out three more matches to complete his ban.

Announcing their verdict, Cas said: 'The panel found that in this case the principle of self-defence does not apply.

Darwin Nunez (second right) will miss Uruguay's next three matches after being ordered to serve a ban

Nunez was involved in a confrontation with Colombia fans following last year's Copa America semi-final

Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa defended the actions of his players, but Nunez's appeal against his ban has been rejected

'The conduct of the players constituted a voluntary, violent and unjustified action which was in violation of the Conmebol disciplinary code.'

Nunez will now miss Uruguay's next three World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay, Venezuela and Peru.

Meanwhile, the other four Uruguay players - including Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur - have all served their bans and will be available to manager Marcelo Bielsa for next month's qualifiers.

Nunez was seen clambering into the stands after crowd trouble broke out near where the family members of the Uruguay team were seated.

Ex-Leeds boss Bielsa claimed at the time that his players deserved an apology for the the unsavoury incident unfolded.

'How can you not defend your mother, your sister, a baby?' Bielsa asked in a press conference.

'If they did not do it, they would have been condemned by all of us.'

However, Cas appear to have seen things differently, and Nunez will now have to complete his ban.

Uruguay are currently third in the South American qualifying table behind Argentina and Ecuador, and could seal their place at next year's World Cup without Nunez in their next three matches.

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