Security personnel detain a Colombia supporter who that tried to get into the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami without tickets ahead of the Conmebol 2024 Copa America tournament final football match between Argentina and Colombia. Photo: JUAN MABROMATA/AFP
Chaos at the Copa America final - as football fans rushed security at the final in Florida - capped a tournament rife with discord just two years before the World Cup is set to take place in the United States.
As some fans without tickets tried to enter, police closed the gates and initiated a lockdown that left hundreds of fans stuck outside the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens in sweltering heat on Monday (NZ time). South American football's governing body Conmebol repeatedly delayed the match between Argentina and Colombia, and it finally kicked off over an hour late.
It was a stunning scene from the home of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins, which is used to welcoming massive crowds at sport's biggest events, including the Super Bowl four years ago.
The venue will host matches at the 2026 World Cup, which is organised by the sport's global governing body, FIFA.
Hard Rock Stadium said in a statement that it had "more than double" the personnel on Sunday than at a typical capacity event. The stadium has a capacity of over 65,000.
"We understand there are disappointed ticket holders who were not able to enter the stadium after the perimeter was closed, and we will work in partnership with Conmebol to address those individual concerns," it said.
"Ultimately, there is nothing more important than the health and safety of all guests and staff."
Conmebol, Concacaf, Fifa and US Soccer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Similar incidents have happened in several recent major soccer matches in places including London and Paris.
But it was a bitter disappointment nonetheless for fans at a tournament that had been intended to showcase inter-confederation camaraderie, with the United States hosting South America's most important national team tournament for the second time.
Instead the affair slumped across the starting line. Empty seats were in sight at several group matches, with fans complaining about high prices and far-flung stadiums.
The US team were unable to get out of the group stage and split with their head coach Gregg Berhalter as a result.
Then, security personnel came under fire after Uruguay players clashed with Colombia fans following their Copa America semi-final defeat.
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa later told reporters that his players' family members were assaulted in the stands and ripped Copa organisers for failing to protect them.
Canada coach Jesse Marsch also criticised the tournament organisers ahead of his team's third-place clash with Uruguay, calling the event unprofessional at every level and saying that his players were treated as "second-class citizens".
"We've had our players be head-butted. We've had racial slurs thrown at our players live and through social media," he said.
He also accused referees of bias against Concacaf players.
"There's so many things I could say."
- Reuters