FC Barcelona are working around the clock to ensure they have a good end to what has been a middling transfer window. The Catalan club signed Dani Olmo this summer but there haven’t been any other significant acquisitions other than the youngster, Pau Victor.
One player who has been missing for some time now is captain Ronald Araujo. The defender suffered an injury when playing for Uruguay in the recently concluded Copa America and has since undergone surgery.
Araujo found himself in the midst of controversy after Uruguay’s semifinal loss to Colombia when the La Celeste players entered into a brawl with the fans of the opposition who supposedly insulted their family members.
As per SPORT, the governing body of South American football has now sanctioned Araujo and the other players involved in the brawl. The 25-year-old has been handed a fine of $12,000 and will also have to serve a three-match suspension.
Liverpool star Darwin Nunez has been handed the worst sanction and will have to pay a fine of $20,000 and also serve a five-match suspension. Tottenham ace Rodrigo Bentancur will have to pay a fine of $16,000 and serve a four-match suspension. Mathias Oliviera and Jose Maria Gimenez have been handed similar sanctions to that of Araujo.
The Barcelona captain has been handed this sanction for violating articles 11.1 and 11.2 of the Disciplinary Code in the sections referring to “violating the minimum guidelines of what is to be considered acceptable behavior in the field of sport and organized football”.
That episode after the Uruguay vs Colombia game is one that Araujo and all other La Celeste players will want to forget. However, what is done is done and the players have no choice but to serve their sanctions.
Araujo, as we have seen many times in a Barcelona jersey, is never one to shy away from a fight. The silver lining for him is that he is anyways set to miss out on Uruguay’s next set of games through injury and this doesn’t really change anything.
The 25-year-old Barcelona leader will have to reign in his emotions and keep his composure in such situations going forward. Currently, fans are waiting for Araujo to make a swift recovery and be available for selection. Only time will tell how long that takes.
