MIAMI GARDENS, Florida – Fans appeared to breach the Hard Rock Stadium security gates hours before the Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia on Sunday night.
Video posted on social media showed the fans, mostly wearing the yellow and red colors of Colombia, jumping over security fences near the southwest entrance of the stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, and past police officers and stadium attendants. Screams could be heard in the background.
Some people could be seen receiving medical treatment and asking for water in the sweltering South Florida heat. Police officers managed to push the crowd behind black gates and lock the entrance so no one could enter, although many fans had already reached their seats before then.
A young fan wearing an Argentina shirt entered the gate crying hysterically as the man with him and a police officer tried to comfort him.
A fan named Claudio, who traveled from Mendoza, Argentina, for the game, said he couldn’t breathe as police tried to control the chaos.
Miami-Dade County Police Department issued a statement about X after the scenementioning that “several incidents” occurred before the stadium gates opened.
“These incidents were the result of unruly behavior by fans attempting to access the stadium,” the statement said. “We ask everyone to be patient and comply with the rules established by our Hard Rock Stadium officials and staff. We are actively working with Hard Rock Stadium to ensure a safe environment for all attendees. Unruly behavior will get you expelled and/or arrested.”
A sold-out crowd of more than 65,000 was expected to the championship match of the South American tournament.
It is unclear which of the fans who entered during the rush had tickets to the match – CONMEBOL, South America’s governing body, released a statement the day before warning that fans must have tickets to enter the venue.
___
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
