Miami: Ramon Jesurun, president of the Colombian Football Federation, was arrested in Miami on Sunday during the Copa America final, according to a police report released on Monday. The incident occurred at Hard Rock Stadium, where Jesurun faces charges of “assault on officer/employee.”
Chaos erupted as spectators attempted to storm the gates of the stadium, leading to scenes of pushing and shoving. Many fans tried to sneak into the venue through air conditioning ducts, resulting in an 80-minute delay to the match.
Argentina ultimately triumphed over Colombia 1-0, with Lautaro Martinez scoring the decisive goal in extra time.
Jesurun, 71, was reportedly denied entry to the field alongside his son and other family members after the match for the awards ceremony. Tensions escalated when his son confronted a security guard over the access denial, which led to Jesurun becoming involved in the dispute before police intervened.
According to Miami-Dade police, there were 27 arrests and 55 ejections from the stadium during the match. Police Director Stephanie Daniels praised the officers for their response to the volatile situation, ensuring the safety of the community and their law enforcement partners.
In response to the incident, the South American football governing body, CONMEBOL, issued a statement indicating that recommended security procedures were not followed. They noted that fans without tickets crowded the stadium vicinity, complicating access for ticket holders and resulting in the closing of stadium doors.
CONMEBOL expressed regret over the violence that marred what was expected to be a celebratory final, emphasizing that the decisions made by stadium authorities impacted the security operation and the overall event.
