Footage shows Nunez entering stands and punching Colombian fans

Incredible new footage has emerged showing the moment Liverpool star Darwin Nunez entered the stands before throwing punches at supporters after Uruguay's Copa America semi-final defeat by Colombia.

An extraordinary post-match brawl ensued just minutes after the referee's final whistle confirmed Colombia's place in Sunday's final.

Nunez alongside team-mates including Jose Gimenez and Ronald Araujo battled fans of their opponents, while Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Betancur could be seen flinging two bottles into the stands - only for one to hit a Uruguayan staff member.

The new images show the early stages of the melee in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a man in a black polo shirt with a credential around his neck appears to spark tensions after he can be seen punching a nearby Colombia fan.

The Reds striker soon appears and initially attempts to throw a bottle before it is knocked out of his hand. The 25-year-old then makes his way into the heart of the scuffle, leaping over rows of seats to engage with the Colombia fans.

Uruguay defender Gimenez claimed that the players' families - sitting in close proximity to the fans - were 'avalanched' by drunken supporters, and that they'd stepped in to defend them.

'This is an embarrassment, there wasn't one police officer to control them. We had to go and defend our own just because they can't control their drinking,' he said.

Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa was asked about the scenes after the match, and said he 'didn't see everything.'

'I went to the locker room…the Uruguayan players were thanking the Uruguayan fans for their support,' he continued.

Nunez was seen consoling his baby daughter on the field after the fight. Some supporters could also be heard screaming as the unsavoury scenes unfolded nearby.

Uruguay players Maximiliano Araujo and Sebastian Caceres were also among those spotted near the fans.

The families of Uruguay players were then escorted out of the stadium through a different exit to ensure their safety, according to reporter Favian Renkel.

The skirmish followed a hotly-contested match which saw Colombia hold on to a one-goal lead to advance to the Copa America final against Argentina.

Within a fiery atmosphere at Bank of America Stadium, Colombia saw a man sent off, both teams levied some extremely heavy tackles on each other and James Rodriguez was booked after furiously protesting with the referee.

Daniel Munoz was given his marching orders after receiving two yellows in the first half, the second of which saw him elbow Manuel Ugarte.

Liverpool's Luis Diaz was also hacked down on several occasions, while Uruguay drew the ire of their opponents when they refused to stop playing with Richard Rios crumpled in the far corner.

He was eventually taken off on a stretcher off after trying to continue.

Eventually, Colombia ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a Jefferson Lerma header, and they will play Lionel Messi and Argentina in Sunday's final in Miami.