Uruguay’s Luis Suarez Angrily Punches Dugout After Not Playing In 1-0 Loss To Venezuela

Uruguay was eliminated from the Copa America Centenario following their 1-0 loss against Venezuela at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Thursday night, although this was not the only embarrassment suffered by the 15-time champions.

Luis Suarez Punches Dugout After Not Playing In 1-0 Loss To Venezuela

Forward Luis Suarez, who missed Uruguay’s first game of the competition– a 3-1 defeat to Mexico– due to injury, was told by coach Oscar Tabarez he would not be playing on Thursday either, which led Suarez to lose his temper, throw one of his cleats onto the field, and punch the dugout in frustration.

Suarez, 29, had been warming up on the sidelines in the second half despite not being named as a starter or substitute.

“There is no situation. The situation is what I told you [on Wednesday]. The player is not ready to play,” said a defiant Tabarez of the Barcelona forward. “This is an issue about numbers and doctors. Even if the player is upset, I’m not going to play a player who is not 100 per cent. If he got upset, that is something I was not aware of. He didn’t tell me anything.”

Suarez injured his hamstring in Barcelona’s Copa del Rey final victory over Sevilla in May.

Salomon Rondon, a striker for West Bromwich Albion scored the lone goal for Venezuela in the 36th minute after a shot from midfield by Alejandro Guerra was barely deflected by Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and hit the crossbar.

Venezuela and Mexico will now be the two teams of Group C who advance to the quarterfinals after both securing two wins in the first round. Mexico defeated Jamaica 2-0 in Pasadena, California on Thursday. Jamaica also lost to Venezuela 1-0 on Sunday.

Mexico’s victory was their 10th in succession since Juan Carlos Osorio took over as coach last year, with Bayer Leverkusen forward Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez heading the opening goal.

Mexico and Venezuela will face off in Houston, Texas on Monday night.

PHOTO: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – JUNE 19: Luis Suarez of Uruguay celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Uruguay and England at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 19, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)