Marcelo Bielsa Suspended: Uruguay to Face US Without Head Coach
Marcelo Bielsa, Uruguay’s coach, has faced suspension by Copa America organizers CONMEBOL. The ruling comes after a delay in the team’s return to the field during their recent Group C match against Bolivia. Despite this hiccup, Uruguay secured a 5-0 win, moving closer to the quarterfinals. The Uruguayan Football Association has also been fined $15,000.
Uruguayan assistant coach Diego Reyes will fill Bielsa’s role in the upcoming match against the United States. Reyes acknowledged the regulatory setback but expressed confidence in adapting to the sanctions. CONMEBOL’s rules mandated the suspension, citing repeated delays as the cause.
Uruguay needs just a draw to advance to the quarterfinals, while the USMNT must at least match Panama’s result against Bolivia to proceed. The tournament has seen multiple suspensions for similar infractions, affecting several high-profile coaches, emphasizing CONMEBOL’s strict adherence to match schedules.
