Fans were observed breaching security at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens hours before the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia. Videos circulating on social media displayed fans wearing Colombia’s colors jumping over security railings and running past authorities and stadium staff near the Southwest entrance, with sounds of commotion audible in the background. Despite police and attendants managing to confine the crowd behind gates, some individuals needed medical attention in the high South Florida temperatures. Notably, a distraught young fan in an Argentina jersey was seen being comforted by a man accompanying him and a police officer as they entered the venue.
Claudio, a supporter who had traveled from Mendoza, Argentina, described the chaotic moments, expressing struggles to breathe amidst police efforts to restore order. Following the incidents, Miami-Dade County’s police department issued a statement noting “several incidents” had occurred before the stadium gates opened, attributing them to fans’ disorderly conduct in attempting to access the venue. The statement emphasized the necessity of adhering to regulations set by law enforcement and stadium personnel for a secure environment, warning of possible ejection or arrest for disruptive behavior.
The championship match was anticipated to draw a sellout crowd exceeding 65,000 attendees, although it was uncertain whether all fans who rushed inside possessed tickets for the game. CONMEBOL, the governing body for South American football, had issued a warning a day earlier stipulating that tickets were mandatory for entry into the venue.
