Copa América: Colombian football president arrested after defeat against Argentina in chaotic final

The president of the Colombian Football Federation was arrested early Monday morning, shortly after his team’s defeat to Argentina in the Copa América final at Hard Rock Stadium.

Ramón Jesurún, who also serves as vice president of CONMEBOL and holds a seat on the FIFA Council, was arrested with his son in Miami Gardens, Florida, at around 12:20 a.m. on Monday. Jesurún, 71, was accused of fighting several security guards inside the stadium after the end of the match, along with his 43-year-old son, Ramón Jamil Jesurún.

According to WPLG, both Jesurún and his son became “angry” at a security guard in a tunnel at the stadium and began yelling at him when they were denied passage. The incident then turned physical and Jesurún shoved the guard, according to the report. The younger Jesurún then allegedly grabbed the guard by the neck and punched him. From there, the incident escalated as several more security guards intervened.

A video of the altercation was shown on social media by Fox Sports Mexico.

The two men were booked into a local jail around 4:15 a.m. Monday. They were both charged with three counts of assault on a certain officer or employee, according to the Miami Herald.

The incident was one of countless incidents that occurred during Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Colombia in South Florida on Sunday night. At least 27 people were arrested and 55 ejected from the stadium after fans without tickets broke barriers, climbed walls and fences and even tried to enter the stadium through a ventilation shaft. The game was postponed for nearly 90 minutes.

In a statement, Hard Rock Stadium said that “there were numerous attempts by unruly fans without tickets to overpower security and stewardship personnel at the entrances to the stadium.” The event was organized and run by the South American football confederation CONMEBOL.

Argentina won its second consecutive Copa America title on Sunday night thanks to a goal from Lautaro Martinez in the 112th minute. It was the 16th Copa America title for the country, which just won the 2022 World Cup.