The start of the Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia was delayed after problems with the public and fans breaching security gates.
Hours before the scheduled start at 8:00 p.m. (local time) at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami gardens, FloridaFans were seen jumping over security railings and scaling fences to get inside.
Videos posted on social media also showed fans, some of whom were believed not to have tickets, running past police officers and stadium attendees as shouting could be heard in the background.
A young Argentine fan was let in crying hysterically while the man with him and a police officer tried to console him.
Officers were able to push the crowd behind the doors and close the entrance so no one else could enter.
They began slowly letting fans into the stadium at 8:10 p.m. for a rescheduled 9:15 p.m. kickoff, but some fans once again rushed in, breaking railings and moving security scanners back and forth. other.
Three police officers were seen handcuffing a fan with a Colombian flag on a ramp leading to the stadium seats.
The violation generated special concern among fans, since Hard Rock Stadium is one of the venues for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The police arrest a fan. Photo: Sammbonu/Reuters
An Argentine fan called Claudio, who spoke of not being able to breathe as police tried to control the chaos, said: “They can’t organize a World Cup! It’s impossible.”
The players finally returned to the field to warm up 40 minutes after the scheduled start, and the match eventually began more than an hour and 15 minutes late.
During the tense match, in which Lionel Messi Argentina, injured midway through the match, won 1-0 after a goal from Lautaro Martínez in the 112th minute, a record 16th in the tournament for the team.
Photo: AP
“This can’t happen again”
In a joint statement released during the game about the disruption, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Public Safety Chief James Reyes said “this situation should never have happened and cannot happen again.” “.
They said they will work with stadium leaders to “ensure that a full review of tonight’s events is conducted immediately to evaluate the entire chain of events, in order to implement the necessary protocols and policies for all future games.” “.
Fans of both teams were photographed gathering at the gates of the stadium. Photo: AP
More than 550 officers had been assigned to the stadium ahead of the match, which was expected to draw 65,000 people.
The Miami-Dade County Police Department said earlier Sunday that there were “several incidents” before the stadium gates opened, attributing it to “unruly behavior.”
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Similar scenes also erupted in Wembley Stadium in 2021 after several fans without tickets breached external barriers and turnstiles for the Euro 2020 final between England and Italy.
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