Copa America Fans Rush Hard Rock Stadium Security, Cause Mayhem Throughout Colombia Vs. Argentina Face-Off
All hell broke loose Sunday evening in Miami as fans showed up to Hard Rock Stadium to watch the Copa America finale between Lionel Messi's Argentina team and Colombia.
The excitement at the entrance gates boiled over, and venue security struggled to contain the rowdy soccer fans. Eventually, complete mayhem broke out before the anticipated match as some fans tried to enter without tickets.
READ: Argentina's Lionel Messi Sobs After Going Down In Copa America Finale With Apparent Injury
An estimated 7,000 fans entered without tickets on Sunday. And the damage caused by rowdy fans to the infrastructure at Hard Rock Stadium was shocking.
In footage circulating around social media, soccer fans seemingly arriving without tickets to the match on Sunday and waiting to enter Hard Rock tried to out-run security to gain entrance. The mayhem delayed the start of the final match of the tournament and forced both sides back to their locker rooms.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JULY 14: Fans try to enter the stadium amid disturbances prior to the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Final match between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium on July 14, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Supporters without tickets wait outside the stadium ahead of the Conmebol 2024 Copa America tournament final football match between Argentina and Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami, Florida on July 14, 2024. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JULY 14: Fans of Colombia and Argentina try to pass the gate amid disturbances the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Final match between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium on July 14, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
According to reports, between 10 and 15 people were arrested for attempting to forcefully enter the venue.
Members of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue were also seen assisting several people involved in the wild scene. Additional reporting also said that the excruciating heat outside Hard Rock on Sunday added to the irritation for fans waiting to enter. The heat also led to medical emergencies among fans.
Fans even attempted to bypass security by entering through the ventilation ducts. During the match, the venue announced that security was conducting a row-by-row check for tickets to remove the loitering fans without admission.
The Miami-Dade Police Department released a statement Sunday afternoon:
"We have had several incidents prior to the gates opening at Hard Rock Stadium for the COPA America final game. These incidents have been a result of the unruly behavior of fans trying to access the stadium.
"We are asking everyone to be patient, and abide by the rules set by our officers and Hard Rock Stadium personnel. We are actively working with Hard Rock Stadium to ensure a safe environment for all those attending. Unruly behavior will get you ejected and/or arrested. We have a ZERO TOLERANCE behavior against unruly conduct from everyone attending."
Additional details closer to the match's start time revealed that groups of fans without tickets managed to get into Hard Rock, turning into an issue as rogue fans occupied designated seats intended for paying attendees.
The venue also released a statement trying to deter fans without tickets from entering.
"In anticipation of tonight's Copa America Final, thousands of fans without tickets attempted to forcibly enter the stadium, putting other fans, security and law enforcement officers at extreme risk. Security has shut the gates in order to control the entry process at a much slower rate and ensure everyone is kept safe.
"As a result, tonight's match start time has been delayed until further notice to accommodate for ticketed fans to be able to safely enter the stadium.
"All fans without tickets MUST leave the Hard Rock Stadium premises. It is paramount to a successful and most importantly a safe match."
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JULY 14: Police detain fan of Argentina prior to the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Final match between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium on July 14, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Fan hysteria has headlined the Copa America tourney storylines this week, including a chaotic post-match fight in Charlotte on Wednesday after Colombia defeated Uruguay to take on Argentina. After losing 1-0, Uruguayan players went into the stands at Bank of America Stadium to fight the pestering Colombian soccer fans.
Courtesy of the ruckus at Hard Rock, Sunday's finale was delayed back to an 8:30 p.m. (ET) start time.
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