The Copa America final descended into chaos even before kick-off on Sunday, when ticketless fans burst through the gates of Hard Rock Stadium and tried to get inside the building before anyone else was allowed inside.
The match between Argentina and Colombia was eventually postponed for 75 minutes as authorities tried to get the situation under control and address the safety risks posed by allowing so many fans in without being screened.
BREAKING: The gates of Hard Rock Stadium have been breached and fans are beginning to stream in to watch the 2024 games. #copaamerica Police are struggling to stem the flow of people. pic.twitter.com/fkoMMYGk8K
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 14, 2024
Photos and videos showed arrests being made but many fans were able to make their way through the stadium, with some footage showing Colombian fans climbing onto air vents to get into the stadium.
Among those arrested on Sunday night was Colombian Football Federation President Ramon Jesulun. Here's what you need to know about Jesulun's arrest and the charges he now faces.
Read more: Why the Copa America fiasco won't be repeated at the 2026 World Cup
Ramon Jesulun's arrest explained
Jeslun was arrested and charged with three felony counts of assault on certain officers or employees at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday after he was accused of fighting with a security guard after Columbia's overtime loss. Jeslun's son was also arrested on similar charges.
Police have accused Jesrun of pushing a security guard after he was asked to step aside, and the Colombian Football Association president reportedly “yelled in the security guard's face” before being asked to step aside.
Meanwhile, Jesrun's son is accused of grabbing the security guard around the throat and punching him.
Colombian Football Federation president Ramon Jesulun and his 43-year-old son were arrested after Colombia's loss to Argentina. Jesulun, who is also CONMEBOL vice-president, missed the awards ceremony after an alleged altercation with a staff member. It was a turbulent night right until the very end.pic.twitter.com/PCxFudIQMq
— Men In Blazers (@MenInBlazers) July 15, 2024
Jesuran was not arrested when fans forced their way through the gates into Hard Rock Stadium before the game, but tensions rose inside the stadium and police were on high alert. Miami-Dade Police issued a statement earlier in the day saying they had a “zero tolerance” policy toward unlawful activity.
— Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) July 14, 2024
According to Miami-Dade police, 27 people were arrested and 55 ejected on Sunday night. The event has been widely criticized as a security failure, with some fans blaming CONMEBOL, the organisers of the Copa America tournament.
According to Univision, Hard Rock Stadium was filled to capacity by about 7,000 people as a result of pre-game excitement.
Jesrun, 71, was arrested early Monday morning and later released.
