Chaos and horror consumed the Copa América final prior to kickoff in Miami, where thousands of fans were stuck and increasingly crushed outside Hard Rock Stadium gates as security tried, and apparently failed, to manage the inflow of spectators for Sunday’s game between Argentina and Colombia.
For an extended period of time in the hour before a scheduled 8 p.m. kickoff, all stadium gates were closed. Organizers announced that the match had been delayed until at least 8:30. It eventually began at 9:22.
Fans, meanwhile, were suffering. Children were crying. Multiple people reportedly passed out. Multiple men were bloodied by police. As security refused to let fans enter, the crush toppled a barrier, as kids and parents squealed and screamed in panic.
Around 8:15, with the situation worsening, gates opened, and fans were allowed to enter without scanning their tickets — the only apparent solution.
A Hard Rock Stadium spokesperson said in a statement that organizers “communicated and decided to open stadium gates for a short period of time to all fans to prevent stampedes and serious injury at the perimeter.”
“The gates were then closed once the threat of fans being crushed was alleviated,” the statement continued. “At that time, the venue was at capacity and gates were not re-opened.”
Many ticketed fans, as a result, were barred from the game while many ticketless fans entered, and saw some or all of Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Colombia.
The chaos seemingly began when some un-ticketed fans — it’s not clear how many — breached at least one main entry gate. The Hard Rock Stadium spokesperson said that, “throughout the afternoon and evening, there were numerous attempts by unruly fans without tickets to overpower security and law enforcement personnel at entry points.”
At various points, they streamed toward the stadium concourse, with police and security personnel chasing after them.
BREAKING: The gates at Hard Rock Stadium have been breached and scores of fans have begun streaming in for the 2024 #CopaAmerica final. Police are scrambling to try and stem the flow of people. pic.twitter.com/fkoMMYGk8K
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 14, 2024
¡ENTRAN AL PORTAZO! 🤯
Problemas entre hinchas colombianos y la policía porque se quieren meter por todos lados al 🏟️ Hard Rock para la final de la #CopaAmerica.
🤕 Niños y mujeres lastimadas pic.twitter.com/WZsWrjx81q
— Juan Francisco Rueda (@juanfranrueda_) July 14, 2024
The breach provoked a forceful police response, and then a lockdown of the breached gate, which seemed to exacerbate the chaos. Even a man holding up a credential was brutally tackled.
Authorities responded by eventually closing all stadium gates. The “gates were closed and re-opened strategically in an attempt to allow ticketed guests to enter safely and in a controlled manner,” the stadium spokesperson said.
This, though, left many ticketed fans — including, reportedly, family members of multiple players — unable to enter, and stuck in a mass of people, sweating in sweltering heat and South Florida humidity.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni later said that some players spent an hour outside the stadium, concerned about those family members. The scenes, he said, were “difficult to understand.”
🚨 Alexis Mac Allister’s mother Silvina stated that Alexis had to leave the locker room to assist his family to get them into the Hard Rock stadium. She says “it was inhumane”.pic.twitter.com/ZisP95B0n3
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) July 15, 2024
A better view from above the Southwest Gate at Hard Rock Stadium. Very concerning having that many people in that small a space. I’m told by a Miami-Dade PD officer that all gates into stadium are closed for the time being. #CopaAmerica2024 pic.twitter.com/HkWNFgcmwn
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) July 14, 2024
Prior to the full closure, for a brief time, authorities were letting fans in one by one, with a dozen officers lining the entryway.
But more still were congregating outside, expecting to enter. Many had paid hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for tickets to the final, the most expensive match of the four-week tournament.
Security was letting in fans one by one before closing the south west gate again & enforcing some sort of lock down due to the security breach.
Again, please everyone be careful. pic.twitter.com/dm7IsWP0NF
— Lizzy Becherano (@lizzy_becherano) July 14, 2024
Multiple journalists on the scene said they and others were told by police to stop filming the chaos, which will raise all sorts of critical questions about the preparedness of CONMEBOL, the South American soccer confederation in charge of the Copa América, and local organizers in Miami.
The Copa is not the first soccer tournament to struggle with crowd control. But these horrifying scenes — four days after a semifinal ended in a player-fan brawl — fall in line with the tournament’s wide-ranging disorder.
Videos of Sunday’s disorder began to spread shortly after gates opened, in the 5 p.m. hour.
⚠️ ATENCIÓN
Desmanes en la entrada al estadio, MUCHAS personas buscan colarse para vivir el partido, algunos tuvieron éxito. La policía tuvo que intervenir con el uso de la fuerza.
❌ ¡ASÍ NO ES! pic.twitter.com/21TBplo2cr
— Fútbol colombiano (@Futbolfpc) July 14, 2024
Más escenas de cómo decenas de colombianos lograron colarse sin boleto a la Final de la Copa América.
Si la seguridad fue caótica en Charlotte ( 🇺🇾 vs 🇨🇴 ), en Miami no pinta mejor. pic.twitter.com/BZ9jWKrc0y
— Rafael Ramos (@RafaeIRamosV) July 14, 2024
An image of the aftermath showed destruction around an escalator at a stadium entrance.
The Miami-Dade Police Department later said in a statement that there had been “several incidents prior to the gates opening,” which had “been a result of the unruly behavior of fans trying to access the stadium.”
CONMEBOL released a statement warning fans that those “who do not have tickets will not be able to enter the stadium.” While that statement rang hollow, fans who did have tickets were also unable to enter the stadium:
Fans were also apparently resorting to unusual means to gain entry into the venue. Video posted to social media showed people attempting to climb through the vents to get in.
Additionally, fans weren’t the only ones having difficulty getting into the stadium. CONCACAF staff, credentialed journalists and other personnel working the match in official capacities are also still outside the gates. Some were never allowed to enter.
“We understand there are disappointed ticket holders who were not able to enter the stadium after the perimeter was closed,” the stadium spokesperson said in a statement. “We will work in partnership with CONMEBOL to address those individual concerns.”
It’s unclear how many fans ultimately did get in. Hard Rock Stadium holds roughly 65,000. According to reports, some fans were arriving at their purchased seats to find other fans already in them.
Follow Yahoo Sports’ live blog of the 2024 Copa América final:
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER85 updates
FINAL score: Argentina 1-0 Colombia
112′ – Lautaro Martínez finds the net with an assist from Giovani Lo Celso.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 6:10 AM GMT+2Mon, July 15, 2024 at 6:09 AM GMT+2
It’s over. Argentina goes back-to-back in Copa America with a 1-0 win over Colombia.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:57 AM GMT+2
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:56 AM GMT+2
We have a goal!. It’s Lautaro Martinez in the 112th minute to give Argentina the lead!
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:45 AM GMT+2
It’s 0-0 through the first 15 minutes of extra time. Both teams are gassed. Will they play for penalties or will someone keep pressing for a goal>
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:42 AM GMT+2
Both teams are absolutely exhausted at the moment.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:40 AM GMT+2
Argentina has looked the more optimistic side so far in extra time.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:36 AM GMT+2Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:34 AM GMT+2Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:33 AM GMT+2Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:27 AM GMT+2
Players completely gassed. And as James’ faded (logical), Colombia’s play started to dwindle.
Juanfer Quintero was about to make his cameo before regulation whistle.
Mojica and Arias receiving muscular treatment. Colombia’s fullbacks also look like their running on last drops
— Nico Cantor (@Nicocantor1) July 15, 2024
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:17 AM GMT+2
It’s time for 30 more minutes of soccer. It’s 0-0 after 90 minutes as Lionel Messi sits dejected on the Argentina bench.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:10 AM GMT+2
As we’re in the 80th minute, neither team is any closer to a go-ahead goal. Could we be headed to extra time? Remember, the Copa America final does not go straight to penalty kicks.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:04 AM GMT+2
Argentina thinks it has a go-ahead goal in the 75th minute … but it’s called off for offside.
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:04 AM GMT+2Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:01 AM GMT+2
Messi has given his country so much and is in absolute tears not to be on the field to provide Argentina with just one more win.
Let’s hope it’s not severe. Legend #Messi
pic.twitter.com/IPkrLuH6FX
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) July 15, 2024
Mon, July 15, 2024 at 5:00 AM GMT+2Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:57 AM GMT+2Mon, July 15, 2024 at 4:57 AM GMT+266′ Nicolas Gonzalez replaces injured MessiMon, July 15, 2024 at 4:57 AM GMT+2
Lionel Messi is in tears on the Argentina bench.
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/live/copa-america-final-chaos-argentina-colombia-delayed-fans-stuck-outside-after-gates-breached-and-closed-232858349.html
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Publish date : 2024-07-15 07:53:32
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