Disorder broke out at the Copa America final on Sunday when fans rushed into Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens right before the highly-awaited match between Argentina and Colombia was about to start.
The chaos led to multiple injuries, including a 9-year-old boy who had to be hospitalized for treatment.
A Dream Turned Nightmare for Young Fan
Lucas Sherman, 9 years old, had been looking forward to the Copa America final with great excitement.
He exuded enthusiasm while revealing that his grandfather, a dedicated Argentina team fan born in Argentina, pledged to provide tickets if the team reached the finals before the tournament commenced.
This game was important not only because his team reached the finals, but also because it was Lucas' first ever soccer match he watched live.
Yet, while Lucas and his father, Scott Sherman, attempted to find their way into the stadium, they found themselves trapped in a tumultuous crowd.
Scott characterized the situation as disorderly, with individuals pushing and leaping over obstacles.
He succeeded in filming a video of the chaos, where the authorities were having a hard time managing the crowd.
Scott stated that the mob was too big for the police to handle. Scott stated that some individuals who were apprehended were subsequently let go back into the crowd, exacerbating the situation.
Amidst the commotion, Lucas suddenly felt a sharp pain in his arm. They finally found an open gate, but when they tried to enter, a stampede broke out and he got his elbow hit, resulting in a fracture.
Even though he couldn't see the live game and suffered a fractured arm, Lucas remained optimistic, saying that the match was well-played but it was unfortunate they couldn't be there.
Authorities Respond to the Chaos
The Sherman family had bought suite tickets, but they were unable to use them because of the confusion.
Presently, they're brazened with the task of reacquiring their finances, a difficulty participated by multiple other ticket holders as well.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava stated that the county and event organizers will assess the incident to enhance preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the U.S. There are a minimum of seven World Cup matches planned to be held at Hard Rock Stadium.
During a press conference on Monday, Mayor Levine Cava expressed his anger about the unprecedented events that occurred.
She gave thanks to public safety workers for handling the large crowd of supporters and prioritizing safety as best as they could given the situation.
Organizational Failures and Future Precautions
Pictures and videos on social media depicted fans bypassing security, climbing over fences, and trying to get inside the stadium through unusual ways such as ceiling vents.
The much-awaited game, meant to highlight South American soccer and act as a practice for the 2026 World Cup, was ruined by disorder, causing a delay of more than an hour before it started.
On Monday, tournament organizers, stadium officials, and local authorities tried to clarify the organizational shortcomings, but provided minimal specific information.
The disruptions were mainly attributed to unruly behavior from fans who did not have tickets. The Miami-Dade County Police Department reported that 27 individuals were taken into custody, while 55 others were removed from the stadium.
The final match at Hard Rock Stadium, which has a capacity of 65,326, was fully booked. Nevertheless, stadium workers had to secure the entrances when fans without tickets attempted to enter forcefully.
A spokesperson for the stadium stated that gates were strategically closed and reopened to guarantee the safety of ticket-holders.
