Uruguayan Federation Finds Way to Punish National Team for Early Exit

Uruguay's national team, alongside Turkey, emerged as one of the biggest disappointments of the World Cup. "La Celeste" crashed out in the group stage, where they were drawn with Spain, Cape Verde, and Saudi Arabia. Before the tournament began, it was widely expected that second place in the group was a certainty, with the team even challenging the European champions for the top spot. However, this didn't materialize, and Bielsa's squad returned home prematurely.

This failure was not well-received by the country's football federation, which decided to penalize the entire squad. The management canceled the private flight that had been reserved for the players' return. As a result, Federico Valverde and his teammates will now have to make their way home on regular commercial flights or by any other means they find convenient, making their journey even more unpleasant.