Miami, July 15 (V7N) – The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia faced a significant delay on Sunday evening at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, due to crowd issues, including fans breaching security gates.
Hours before the scheduled kickoff, a crowd of mostly Colombia supporters broke through security railings near the southwest entrance of the stadium. Videos on social media captured the chaotic scene as fans rushed past police officers and stadium attendants, with screams echoing in the background.
Amid the sweltering South Florida heat, several people required medical attention while officers struggled to contain the situation. Despite efforts to lock down the entrance, many ticket-holding fans had already made it to their seats.
Security initially allowed a limited number of fans to enter, but the gates were quickly overwhelmed again, causing scanners to rock from the force of the crowd. Some fans even climbed over fences to gain entry, while others ran in various directions, disregarding ticket checks.
Claudio, a fan from Mendoza, Argentina, described the harrowing experience of being trapped against the gates for hours without proper access or assistance. "They can’t organize a World Cup! It’s impossible," he exclaimed in Spanish, visibly frustrated.
Miami-Dade County police issued a statement addressing the incidents, attributing them to the unruly behavior of fans attempting to access the stadium. They urged patience and compliance with security measures to ensure a safe environment for everyone attending.
Eventually, players took the field for warm-ups around 8:38 p.m., with the new kickoff time set for 9:15 p.m. Hard Rock Stadium also issued warnings, emphasizing that only ticket-holding fans would be allowed entry to ensure both the success and safety of the match.
The final, expected to draw a sellout crowd of over 65,000, featured a significant presence of both Argentina and Colombia supporters in the stands, though the latter seemed more numerous in their distinctive yellow gear.
END/VSD/SMA/
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