The fallout from the chaotic Copa América 2024 final between Argentina and Colombia at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium continues to escalate, with new details emerging about the arrests and subsequent release of Colombian Football Federation President Ramón Jesurún and his son, Ramón Jamil Jesurún.According to reports, the incident occurred when the Jesurúns attempted to access the field through a media tunnel after the match for the award ceremony. They became irate when stopped by security, leading to a physical altercation. Ramón Jesurún, 71, allegedly pushed a security guard, while his 43-year-old son is accused of grabbing the officer’s neck, pulling him to the ground, and punching him in the head.Both were among 27 people arrested during the event, facing charges of battery on an officer. They have since been released on bail, with Ramón Jesurún’s bail set at $2,000 and his son’s at $1,000. They are expected to appear in a Miami-Dade court on Tuesday.This incident was part of a larger series of disturbances that marred the event. Thousands of fans forced their way into the stadium without tickets, causing significant damage and delaying the match by 82 minutes. In total, 55 people were ejected from the venue.CONMEBOL, the South American football governing body, has distanced itself from the security failures. In a statement, CONMEBOL suggested that security procedures were not followed by local organizers, leading to the delay and violence. This assertion has intensified scrutiny on the stadium’s management and raised concerns about its readiness to host future major events, including matches in the 2026 World Cup.As investigations continue, Miami-Dade Police Director Stephanie Daniels stated, ‘We will review the protocols we have introduced to ensure a safe and secure environment for all future events’. The incident has cast a shadow over Argentina’s victory and raised serious questions about the management of major international sporting events in the region.
Key points
- Colombian Football Federation President Ramón Jesurún and his son were arrested and later released on bail after a physical altercation with security at the Copa América final.
- The incident was part of larger security failures at the event, including thousands of fans storming the stadium without tickets.
- CONMEBOL has blamed local organizers for not following security guidelines, raising concerns about the stadium’s readiness to host 2026 World Cup matches.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported ages of Ramón Jesurún and his son across different sources.
