President of the Colombian Football Federation and son arrested in chaos of the Copa America final

The president of the Colombian Football Federation and his son were arrested by Miami-Dade police early Monday following chaos at the Copa America final in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Sunday night, according to an affidavit.

Ramon Jesurun, who is also vice president of CONMEBOL and has been a member of the FIFA Council since 2016, and his son Ramon Jamil Jesurun were arrested around 12:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday and charged with three counts of assault on an official, according to an affidavit.

Both men are accused of clashing with security forces near a tunnel where the media had gathered at around 12:20 a.m. on Monday, according to the affidavit for their arrest.

The incident occurred following the Copa America final between Colombia and Argentina, which Lionel Scaloni’s team won 1-0 after extra time.

Ramon Jesurun, 71, and Ramon Jamil Jesurun, 43, were attempting to enter an area of the stadium tunnel where media was gathering after the game when they were stopped by a security officer, the affidavit states. The altercation turned physical when the officer “put the palm of his hand on Ramon Jamil Jesurun’s chest in an attempt to force him back,” and Ramon Jamil Jesurun then grabbed the officer “by the neck” and pulled him to the ground, the affidavit states. Ramon Jamil Jesurun struck the officer “twice with punches that struck him” and then “delivered a direct kick” to the officer’s head while he was on the ground, the affidavit states.

Jesurun and Ramon Jamil Jesurun were According to prison records, he was admitted to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center around 4:15 a.m. Monday, just hours after the loss to Argentina.

The Colombian Football Federation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia was postponed due to chaotic scenes outside the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Thousands of fans were blocked from entering, with many attempting to enter without tickets. This led to security gates being closed at around 6:00 p.m. ET. Kickoff was initially pushed back to 8:30 p.m. ET, then further to 9:22 p.m. ET.

Security at the Copa América. A gate in the SW corner is opened 90 minutes before kick-off. Thousands of very hot fans out there. Problems are inevitable. Not good pic.twitter.com/glEgYV2VAG

— Jack Lang (@jacklang) July 14, 2024

The incidents resulted in significant property damage, injuries to stadium staff, police officers and innocent visitors. A statement from Miami-Dade County confirmed that there were 27 arrests and 55 ejections from the stadium grounds.

“Last night, our law enforcement teams responded quickly to manage an extremely difficult, dangerous situation that compromised the safety of visitors. I am grateful to each and every member of the MDPD, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation, as well as our partner agencies, for working together to keep fans and our community safe and prevent any major incidents,” said James Reyes, Chief Public Safety Officer. “We are working with event organizers to conduct a comprehensive review of all safety protocols as we continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.”

Miami-Dade County Executive Stephanie V. Daniels added, “I am extremely proud of our officers’ response to a volatile situation and their hard work in keeping our community safe, as well as our law enforcement partners who have provided critical support.”

“As part of the comprehensive analysis of yesterday’s game, we will review the protocols put in place to ensure an orderly, safe and secure environment for all future events.”

Several arrests were made for assault on a police officer and trespassing. The Miami-Dade Fire Department set up a station inside the gate to help people suffering from heat exhaustion when temperatures reached 90 degrees.

Fans in conversation with The athlete blamed the South American football association CONMEBOL for the poor organization. Authorities, including Miami-Dade police, cited “improper conduct” as the reason for the disruptions, while stadium organizers stressed the need for security and controlled entry for ticketed visitors.

“Given this situation, CONMEBOL was subject to the decisions of the Hard Rock Stadium authorities in accordance with the responsibilities for security measures established in the contract. In addition to the provisions established in this contract, CONMEBOL recommended to these authorities the best practices in events of this magnitude, which were NOT taken into account,” the federation said in a statement on its website. “We regret that the acts of violence caused by malicious individuals marred a final that should have been a great celebration of sport.”

Daniella Levine Cava, mayor of Miami-Dade County, later condemned the incidents in a joint statement with Reyes, but then promised a full investigation into the causes.