Copa America Final Delayed After Ticketless Fans Cause Havoc
The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia experienced significant delays on Sunday after thousands of ticketless fans attempted to storm the gates of the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The chaos outside the stadium forced organizers to push back the match by more than an hour.
Footage circulating on social media depicted security personnel in physical confrontations with fans trying to breach the stadium entrances. Both teams were escorted off the field as the situation outside grew increasingly volatile.
CONMEBOL, the South American football governing body, was compelled to delay the kickoff multiple times, finally setting the start time at 9:15 p.m., over an hour later than originally scheduled. “We inform that people who do not have tickets will not be able to enter the stadium,” CONMEBOL stated on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Only those who have purchased tickets will be able to enter the stadium once the entrances are reopened.”
Miami-Dade police had to enforce a lockdown at the stadium, blocking access to control the crowd. A Hard Rock Stadium spokesperson commented, “In anticipation of tonight’s Copa America final, thousands of fans without tickets attempted to forcibly enter the stadium, putting other fans, security, and law enforcement officers at extreme risk.”
Several incidents were reported by Miami-Dade police before the gates were reopened. “These incidents have been a result of the unruly behavior of fans trying to access the stadium,” the police said on social media. “We are asking everyone to be patient, and abide by the rules set by our officers and Hard Rock Stadium personnel.”
Fox News reported ongoing tension outside the stadium, despite efforts to manage the crowd. CONMEBOL had heightened security measures following a semifinal match between Uruguay and Colombia that ended with clashes between Uruguayan players and Colombian fans.
Additionally, Shakira’s halftime show was scheduled to last 20 minutes, a decision criticized by Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo, who expressed concerns that the extended break could impact the players’ performance.
The match eventually proceeded under tight security, with the teams lining up for the national anthems. The incident highlighted the challenges of managing large crowds at major sporting events and underscored the necessity for effective crowd control measures to ensure the safety of all participants and spectators.