BTN News: After Uruguay’s elimination at the hands of Colombia in the Copa América 2024 semifinals, the spotlight turned to the post-match incidents involving Uruguayan players and Colombian fans. Uruguay’s head coach, Marcelo Bielsa, was notably vocal about these events during the post-match press conference. Adding to the discussion, Jesse Marsch, the head coach of Canada’s national team, expressed his support for Bielsa and offered his own critiques regarding the tournament’s organization.
In a press briefing ahead of Canada’s match against Uruguay for third place, Marsch shared his thoughts: “I didn’t watch all of Marcelo Bielsa’s conference, but I caught some of his comments. I agree with some points and disagree with others. This tournament didn’t seem professional to me. There were too many gaps in organization and treatment,” Marsch remarked. Reflecting on the chaotic post-match scenes, he added, “I saw what happened after the game. While I didn’t know all the details, we certainly wouldn’t want our players’ families in such a situation.”
Marsch also pointed out issues his team faced throughout the competition. “If our team had reacted similarly, there would have been sanctions due to the treatment we received. Our players have faced head injuries and racist insults both live and on social media. We’ve been treated like second-class citizens. Rival coaches accused us of crossing the line for being too tough. I’ve challenged our team to stay disciplined and focused to represent ourselves well,” he explained.
The Canadian coach didn’t stop there, directing his criticism towards the refereeing in the tournament. “If you look at the treatment Concacaf teams get during matches, the yellow card rate is significantly higher. I watched the Uruguay-United States game, and in my opinion, it had one of the most biased officiating I’ve seen. I have so much more to say about it,” Marsch stated.
Despite his grievances with the tournament’s organization, Marsch praised his players for their conduct and performance. “Our team deserves great credit for their focus and discipline. They never crossed the line, argued with referees, or exaggerated fouls. They’ve maintained their professional integrity and represented what it means to be Canadian athletes at a high level,” he noted proudly.
Looking ahead to the third-place match against Uruguay, Marsch remained optimistic. “We’re preparing for another tough game against a very strong opponent. We know there will be many challenges, but we are committed to maintaining our standards, discipline, and belief in ourselves. We will show what being Canadian is all about,” he concluded.
The match between Canada and Uruguay is set for Saturday at 9 PM, where both teams will vie for the third-place finish in the Copa América 2024. Canada is coming off a 2-0 defeat to Argentina, the reigning champions, while Uruguay lost 1-0 to Colombia in a match marred by significant incidents.
