July 16th 2024.
Miami Gardens was in a state of chaos on Sunday as the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia took place at the Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami-Dade Police Department reported 27 arrests and 55 ejections due to multiple crowd control issues. These included fans breaching security gates at the entrance, causing a major disturbance.
One of the arrested individuals was the son of Ramón Jesurún, the head of soccer's governing body in Colombia. Ramon Jamil Jesurun was accused of fighting multiple security guards during the event and was booked for three counts of battery on an official. This incident has raised concerns about safety and security protocols, especially with the upcoming World Cup in 2026.
The scene was chaotic just hours before the scheduled 8 pm start of the match. Fans were forcing their way into the stadium, jumping over security railings, and running past police officers and stadium attendants. Many were visibly hysterical as they searched for their companions in the midst of the chaos.
The consequences of this unruly behavior were evident, with significant damage to the venue. Social media was flooded with videos and images showing shattered side railings of an escalator inside the stadium, along with discarded items such as shoes, soda cans, and reading glasses. The southwest entrance of the stadium also suffered damage, with security railings bent over as thousands of people pushed against them, including crying children.
The Miami-Dade Police Department reported that over 800 law enforcement officers were present at the event in an attempt to maintain order. However, the situation quickly spiraled out of control, leaving officials to conduct a thorough review of safety and security protocols for future events.
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