By Miami Gardens, Florida, July 2024 – The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia was delayed by at least 30 minutes on Sunday evening due to crowd issues.
Hours before kickoff, fans attempted to breach the security gates at Hard Rock Stadium. Videos posted on social media showed fans, mostly wearing Colombia’s yellow and red colors, jumping over security railings near the Southwest entrance of the stadium and running past police officers and stadium attendants. Screams could be heard in the background.
A handful of people were seen receiving medical treatment and asking for water in the sweltering South Florida heat. Officers managed to push the crowd behind black gates and lock down the entrance to prevent further breaches, although many ticketed fans had already made it to their seats.
A young fan wearing an Argentina jersey was left inside the gate, crying hysterically as a man with him and a police officer tried to comfort him.
A fan named Claudio, who traveled from Mendoza, Argentina, described being unable to breathe as police worked to control the chaos. “They can’t organize a World Cup! It’s impossible,” Claudio said in Spanish. “People stuck against the gate for hours, unable to breathe. There was a senior citizen, look at him, left without water. Terrible, nothing.”
Miami-Dade Police Department issued a statement on X following the scene, mentioning that there were “several incidents” before the gates opened at the stadium.
We are aware of the unruly behavior of fans trying to enter Hard Rock Stadium,” the statement read. “We are asking everyone to remain calm and follow the instructions of security personnel.”
