The Copa América 2024 final between Argentina and Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami descended into chaos hours before kickoff as fans, predominantly Colombian, attempted to force entry without tickets. The incident led to violent clashes with police, multiple arrests, and a 30-minute delay 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 temporarily closed the gates, even for ticket holders, leaving thousands of fans stranded outside. The Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) issued a statement announcing the delay and emphasizing that only those with valid tickets would be allowed entry once the gates reopened.The match, originally scheduled for 8:00 PM ET, was rescheduled to kick off at 8:30 PM ET (21:30 local time). Despite the delay and heightened security concerns, both teams announced their starting lineups. Argentina, led by coach Lionel Scaloni, is seeking a record 16th Copa América title, while Colombia, under Néstor Lorenzo, aims for its second continental trophy after a 23-year drought.This incident has reignited criticism of the tournament’s organization, with Uruguay’s coach Marcelo Bielsa calling the organizers ‘a plague of liars’. The chaos has also sparked debates about security measures for future international tournaments, with some fans calling for the 2026 World Cup to be held in a different confederation.
Key points
- The Copa América 2024 final was delayed by 30 minutes due to fans, mostly Colombian, attempting to enter the stadium without tickets.
- Violent clashes occurred between fans and police, resulting in multiple arrests and some fans receiving medical treatment.
- The incident has sparked criticism of the tournament’s organization and raised concerns about security for future international events.
- Despite the chaos, the match is set to proceed with Argentina seeking a record 16th title and Colombia its second.
Contradictions👾While most sources report that the majority of fans causing trouble were Colombian, some reports mention fans from both Argentina and Colombia being involved in the incidents.
