Copa America fans arrested and expelled from stadium; Miami-Dade mayor “outraged”

MIAMI – Miami-Dade police said 27 people were arrested during Sunday’s Copa America final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

The soccer final between Argentina and Colombia was postponed by more than an hour because Chaos at the gatesArgentina eventually won 1-0. Star player Lionel Messi had to sit on the bench due to injury.

Meanwhile, some ticket holders who had traveled from other countries never made it in.

Among those arrested were the chairman of the Colombian Football Association, Ramon Jesurun, and his adult son.

The two are accused of assault after reportedly getting into an altercation with two security guards and a woman who tried to break up the fight.

Another 55 were thrown out.

The chaos outside the stadium gates went viral. Footage showed fans jumping over security barriers and running past police and stadium staff. The escalator to the club level was destroyed.

“When we got there,” said Dora Cannitello, “they said all the gates were closed. People were Pushing and shoving one person after another and yelled: “Open the gates.” It wasn’t fair. I had my tickets.”

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said, “I was outraged that something like this even happened.”

She said the county had “over 800 officers on site, compared to just over 300 at the Super Bowl. It is to the police’s credit that everyone left the game safely.”

The mayor said the county will work with organizers to ensure a comprehensive review.

Hard Rock Stadium will host seven FIFA World Cup matches in 2026.