Miami Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has admitted she is “furious” over the chaotic scenes that marred Sunday night’s Copa America final.
The match between Argentina and Colombia at the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium was delayed by more than an hour due to huge crowds and fans trying to break through security gates.
Videos emerged on social media showing fans jumping over security barriers at the stadium’s southwest entrance and running past police officers and stadium staff.
In the background of the images taken around the stadium, screams could be heard. People were crushed by the enormous crowd that was created by the chaos.
The stadium was set to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the footage has raised concerns that the United States is not yet ready to welcome millions of fans to the world’s biggest sporting event.
Miami Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has admitted she is ‘furious’ over the chaos at the Copa America
Frightening crowd problems, which saw fans enter security gates, led to the match being delayed
Panicked fans try to enter Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday amid chaos
Mayor Levine Cava has urged a “full evaluation” to consider Miami as a World Cup venue
Mayor Levine Cava stressed that a “full investigation” will now be conducted into the incident, after an embarrassing event for both the city of Miami and the stadium.
Mayor Levine Cava and Public Safety Director James Reyes said: “We are outraged by the unprecedented events at tonight’s Copa America final.
The Copa America final is organized by CONMEBOL, and the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) provides security along with other law enforcement agencies.
‘Tonight, MDPD has deployed over 550 officers to the stadium, including our Priority Response Team, and is utilizing every resource possible to continue to ensure a safe experience for all attendees. Additionally, MDPD has brought in additional personnel from other jurisdictions to support the safety and well-being of everyone.
“Our highest priority must be the safety and security of all our residents and visitors. We urge everyone attending tonight’s game to adhere to all guidelines from law enforcement and security personnel to ensure the safety of all in attendance.
‘We have also received a safety briefing from stadium management regarding the plan to assist fans in safely exiting the stadium following tonight’s game. We urge all attendees to closely monitor all information and updates from law enforcement and stadium personnel.
Let’s be clear: this situation should never have happened and must not happen again.
‘We will work with stadium management to ensure that a full review of tonight’s events takes place immediately so that the full chain of events can be evaluated and the necessary protocols and policies can be put in place for all future matches.’
Police Arrest Colombian Fan During CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Final
Fans who had spent large sums of money on tickets were not allowed back in after the gates closed
Thousands of fans were crammed into crowded spaces as they tried to get in
A handful of people were seen receiving medical attention and asking for water in the sweltering South Florida heat.
Officers were able to push the crowd behind the barriers and close the entrance, preventing anyone from getting in. However, many fans with tickets had already found a seat.
Security initially opened the gates slightly to allow only a handful of fans in at a time, while other angry visitors pushed against the railing.
After the gates were closed again, security slowly let the fans in around 8:10 p.m. The new kick-off time was set for 9:15 p.m., but the commotion did not stop.
Once again, fans broke through the railing, allowing so many people in that the security scanners started moving back and forth.
Fans wearing both teams’ gear began running in multiple directions, some carrying children on their shoulders. Tickets were not scanned and few police or stadium officials were visible in the sea of people.
Some fans began climbing over fences to get in. Three police officers were seen handcuffing a fan with a Colombian flag on a ramp leading to the stadium seats.
The commotion ahead of the final was the culmination of a series of problems during the 32-match tournament, from complaints about the playing fields to criticism of officials and concerns about player safety.
Argentina won the Copa America thanks to a 1-0 victory over Colombia in extra time
The tournament and its organisers came under heavy criticism following the skirmish that erupted after Colombia’s 1-0 win over Uruguay in the semi-final.
Immediately after referee Cesar Ramos blew the final whistle, Darwin Nunez and his Uruguayan teammates climbed a flight of stairs into the jubilant crowd. Video footage showed Nunez punching a fan wearing the Colombian team colours.
Uruguay captain José Gimenez said the players went into the crowd to protect their families, including their wives and children who were in the stands behind the Uruguay bench.
Coach Marcelo Bielsa later criticised tournament organisers for not doing enough to protect their families, as it took more than 10 minutes for police to arrive and restore order.
CONMEBOL later issued a statement condemning the violence but gave no further explanation about additional security measures for the final.
Scaloni, Martinez and Colombian midfielder Juan Quintero urged fans to remain calm during Sunday’s match.