Police search Copa America stands for fans without tickets
Hard Rock Stadium personnel and police were still removing soccer fans who stormed the site of the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia well into the match.
A chaotic scene outside the stadium forced the game to be delayed more than an hour and authorities had to sweep rows inside to remove fans without tickets who snuck in amid the situation.
“In collaboration with CONMEBOL and law enforcement officers, the decision was made to open the stadium gates for a short period of time to all fans in order to prevent stampedes and serious injury at the perimeter,” a Hard Rock Stadium spokesperson said. “There was serious concern of fans being crushed in an attempt to enter. Law enforcement and security personnel were immediately deployed throughout the stadium and surrounding area to keep fans as safe as possible in light of this unprecedented situation.
“We urge fans to listen to law enforcement and security personnel throughout the night for the safety of all in attendance.”
That led to police going through the stands checking fans’ tickets and removing them if they did not have one.
Video from inside the stadium showed officers — appearing to be wearing tactical helmets — walking into a section and removing a group of fans.
At least four officers could be seen in the video and the group of fans appeared to leave without any further incident.
A post on X by Fox Sports soccer reporter Lanken Litman showed images of police going through rows in the stadium.
Lizzy Becherano, a soccer journalist at the match, posted video that showed a packed stadium with minimal room to maneuver.
“security guards are actively clearing the walk ways in the section in front of the press tribune. During the anthem, the space looked like a complete safety hazard but area has since been dispersed,” Becherano wrote on X.
Scary images of the chaos outside made their way around social media and showed some fans doing everything possible to thwart stadium security to get into the match, from storming the gates at entrances to climbing walls and climbing through vents.
Earlier in the evening, tried to rush through one of the gates and caused a massive safety risk.
Video by TV Azteca Deportes showed a police officer and security guard helping to lift children out of a mass of people being crushed as other security guards tried to keep people from overrunning them.
Screams could be heard as well during the scary scene.
The hordes of fans then toppled over the barricade as children could be heard and seen crying in fear.
Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister had to leave the locker room to help family get into the stadium, his mother told TyCSports, and she called the situation “inhumane,” the Miami Herald reported.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni had expressed hope that Sunday’s final would played without incident, especially after a brawl broke out following the semifinals between Argentina and Uruguay after players ran into the stands to protect their families from fans.
In the lead-up to the final, he pleaded with fans to behave.
“I hope nothing like that happens Sunday, from the bottom of my heart,” Scaloni said. “May the fans of Colombia and Argentina enjoy this event. We will all have friends and family there and don’t want to have to worry if something will happen to them. Those images were like something from 50 years ago and should not be happening.”
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