The head of the Colombian Football Federation, Ramon Jesurun, was arrested after the Copa America final on Monday morning (Vietnam time), according to the Miami-Dade Police records. He faced three charges.
Jesurun and his son, Ramon Jamil Jesurun, were both held at hard Rock Stadium in a chaotic incident that prompted police to make 27 arrests and deport 55 people from the facility.
The 71-year-old chairman was accused of assaulting a law enforcement officer or event organizer. The incident was reported in the records, the two men tried to enter the stadium through a tunnel where the media gathered after the match. stopped by security forces, they "become angry".
The words stuck together and turned into action, when a security guard placed an open hand on Mr. Ramons chest to pull him back, Jesurun grabbed the neck of the security guard and pulled him down to the ground before launching 2 punches at him.
Jesurun was ordered to pay a $1,000 bond for each of the first two crimes.
According to Mirror US, as of 5:00 p.m. on Monday, he was still being held by the police.
These shocking scenes took place before the start of the 2024 Copa America final. The Miami area, where the fans of both finalists, Argentina and Colombia, are heavily demanding, with a starting price of $1,300 on the "black market".
The demand for entering the stadium is huge, people see videos of fans jumping through the gate and entering the stadium through the ventilation holes, along with other illegal entries.
Many people had tickets but their seats were taken away, while the event staff was overloaded and could not support fans.
We ask everyone to be patient and follow the rules set by the officers and staff of hard Rock Stadium, Miami Dade Police warned at the time. "We are actively working with the Stadium Organizing Committee to ensure a safe environment for all participants.
Incorrect behavior will get you chased and/or arrested. We do not condone the equal behavior of all attendees".
According to Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, 550 MDPD law enforcement officers were present at the match.
The stadium footage also recorded event organizers allowing fans to enter without checking tickets, which the hard Rock Stadium organizers explained as an act of avoiding a dangerous step at the entrance.
CONMEBOL, South American Football Federation, faces backlash for the incidents, including Mayor Daniella Cava.
Ms. Cava's statement reads: "We are very outraged by the unprecedented events in the Copa America final. The Copa America final was hosted by CONMEBOL and the Miami-Dade Police Department provided security assistance along with other law enforcement agencies....
In addition, MDPD has mobilized more personnel from many other legal areas to support everyone's safety... Make it clear: This situation should never have happened and cannot happen again."
The match started 1 hour later due to the large number of spectators, which was dangerous.
After the match, Argentine players criticized the playing conditions as "inhumane", saying it was a "disaster".
Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister even left the dressing room early, prioritizing the safety of his family after the chaos.
Lionel Messi's Argentina won the Copa America 2024, also their 16th time being crowned in the top tournament in South America.
