Uruguay Camp Erupts as Players Walk Out of Meeting with Marcelo Bielsa

Uruguay’s World Cup campaign is in turmoil after the team drew its first two matches, against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, and now faces Spain in a game that could decide its fate. Local reports say Marcelo Bielsa is confronting an open player revolt inside the national-team camp.

At a morning training session, several players led by Sergio Rochet, Manuel Ugarte, Rodrigo Bentancur and Federico Valverde asked to meet the coach. They told Bielsa they could not tolerate the way he trains the squad, accusing him of overly intense sessions that left players injured before the tournament. They also criticized his tactical choices and formation.

Bielsa then called the full squad to a 50-minute meeting to defend himself, but the situation escalated when several players walked out. According to the reports, José María Giménez tried unsuccessfully to stop them. Uruguayan media quoted Bielsa as saying, “You already tried to remove me when there was all the Luis Suárez business, and at other times too. I am building a career for some of the players here. I admit I brought injured players to the World Cup, but they are loyal to me and that is why I brought them.”

Ronald Araújo was also quoted as saying, “God help us, I hope we advance, but this can no longer be endured.” The article says the dispute has created chaos in the Uruguay camp just before the decisive meeting with Spain.