The Copa América 2024 final between Argentina and Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami descended into chaos on Sunday, July 14, as hundreds of fans, predominantly Colombian, attempted to force entry without tickets. The incident led to violent clashes with police, multiple arrests, and a delay of over an hour in the match’s start time.According to reports, fans breached security gates and jumped over barriers, causing panic and congestion at the stadium entrances. The Miami-Dade County police department was forced to intervene, using force to subdue the crowd and making several arrests. Some fans reportedly received medical treatment due to heat exhaustion in the sweltering Miami weather.In response to the chaos, stadium authorities initially closed the gates, even for ticket holders, leaving thousands of fans stranded outside. The Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) issued a statement announcing a 30-minute delay and emphasizing that only those with valid tickets would be allowed entry once the gates reopened.However, as the situation escalated and a large crowd accumulated at the entrance, organizers made an unprecedented decision. To avoid further overcrowding and potential safety risks, they opened the gates to the general public without checking tickets. This unusual move allowed some fans without tickets to enter while leaving many legitimate ticket holders stranded outside.The match, originally scheduled for 8:00 PM ET, eventually started almost an hour late. The incident has sparked widespread criticism of the tournament’s organization and raised serious questions about security measures for future international events.The chaos at the Hard Rock Stadium has cast a shadow over what was meant to be the climax of the Copa América 2024, with both teams and officials expressing concern over the safety and well-being of attendees, including family members of players who were caught in the turmoil.
Key points
- Hundreds of fans, mostly Colombian, attempted to enter the Copa América final without tickets, causing chaos and delays.
- The match was delayed by over an hour due to security breaches and violent clashes between fans and police.
- Organizers made an unprecedented decision to open gates without checking tickets, allowing some ticketless fans in while leaving legitimate ticket holders outside.
- The incident has sparked criticism of the tournament’s organization and raised concerns about security for future international events.
Contradictions👾While most sources reported that the gates were initially closed and only ticket holders would be allowed entry, one source claimed that organizers eventually opened the gates to everyone without checking tickets.
This discrepancy in reported actions taken by organizers is significant and warrants further verification.
