Overzealous fans attempted to force their way into the Copa América final, resulting in a 30-minute delay to the match and heightened security measures.
Overexcitement and a lack of discipline marred the start of the Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia on Sunday, as eager fans attempted to breach the gates of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Videos circulating on social media showed unruly individuals leaping over security barriers and sprinting past law enforcement and stadium staff, creating a chaotic scene. The relentless surge of fans without tickets necessitated the closure of stadium gates, leading to a significant delay in the match start time.
Chaos at Copa América Final: Fans Rush Gates, Delaying Kickoff
Originally scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, the kickoff was pushed back by an hour and 15 minutes to 9:15 p.m. ET. The delay allowed security personnel to regain control of the situation and ensure the safety of attendees. Players from both teams were briefly removed from the field before returning to warm up once order was restored.
In a statement, Hard Rock Stadium expressed its dismay at the unruly behavior and emphasized the importance of safety. "In anticipation of tonight's Copa América final, thousands of fans without tickets tried to forcibly enter the stadium, putting other fans, security, and law enforcement officers at extreme risk."
Chaos at Copa América Final: Fans Rush Gates, Delaying Kickoff
"Security has shut the gates in order to control the entry process at a much slower rate and ensure everyone is kept safe," the statement continued.
Miami-Dade County's police department condemned the actions of those responsible for the disruption. "These incidents have been a result of the unruly behavior of fans trying to access the stadium," the department stated. "We are asking everyone to be patient and abide by the rules set by our officers and Hard Rock Stadium personnel."
Chaos at Copa América Final: Fans Rush Gates, Delaying Kickoff
The stadium urged individuals without tickets to leave the premises, emphasizing that unruly behavior would result in ejection or arrest.
Over 65,000 spectators were anticipated to fill Hard Rock Stadium for the highly awaited final, which pitted two of South America's soccer powerhouses against each other. The incident follows a similar incident during the semifinal match between Colombia and Uruguay, which saw players and fans engaging in altercations.
Chaos at Copa América Final: Fans Rush Gates, Delaying Kickoff
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
