Martino to coach from stands in Copa America final

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino has been given a two-match touchline ban for his part in a post-match brawl following his side’s Copa America semi-final win over Venezuela.

With emotions running high after a 5-3 victory for Paraguay on penalties, players and staff from both sides were involved in an unruly scuffle.

Martino had himself already been sent off during the match for dissent and he saw his side reduced to 10 following the dismissal of Dario Veron.

As a result, Martino, who has been coach of the national team since 2006, will have to watch Sunday’s final against neighbours Uruguay from the stands.

Martino’s opposite number, Cesar Farias, made it clear after the game that he felt the blame lay squarely at the feet of the Paraguayan camp.

“Today we have seen how [an established] World Cup team [in Paraguay] and some of their officials had to come and provoke us,” he said.

“Now we are so important that they already know our names, we are so important that we got to penalties and we are so important they have to come and attack us after the game.”