The Colombia vs Argentina match was delayed due to some security issues. The match was delayed for 75 minutes due to some fans.
This match was scheduled on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The game was set to start at 8 p.m. ET. But, it started at 9:22 p.m.
Some fans arrived to see the Copa América final between Colombia and Argentina. They caused a disturbance.
Why is Colombia vs Argentina Copa América delayed?
A few hours ago before starting the Colombia vs Argentina match some fans were seen breaking the southwest gate of Hard Rock Stadium, out of which some were captured by security personnel and police.
In some videos circulating on social media, it can be clearly seen that fans are trying to enter the stadium by jumping from the stadium gates.
A security source confirmed that the southwest entrance to the stadium was blocked due to the security violation.
Thousands of fans tried to enter the stadium without tickets to watch the Colombia vs Argentina final match, leading to a complete lockdown of the stadium. Security closed the gates to control the entry process and ensure the safety of others.
This action by the fans put the players, security personnel, police, and other suspects in trouble. Due to this movement of those who forcibly entered the stadium, the match which was supposed to start at 8:00 PM started at 9:00 PM.
After some time, the management opened the gates of the stadium so that the fans could enter the stadium. A Hard Rock Stadium spokesperson told reporters: That with the help of law enforcement officers, it was decided to open the gates of the ground for a short time to prevent any kind of stampedes and serious injury at the perimeter.
Alexis Mac Allister is a midfielder for Argentina. His mother, Silvina, said She needed his son’s help to enter the stadium to see the Colombia vs Argentina match and described the conditions outside as inhumane.
Alexis left the locker room to help us get in. He was worried. “I thought the game was off,” she said on social media. “I doubted it would happen. It seemed impossible for the players to resolve the issue. The situation was inhumane. But, we are okay.”
“We kept in touch with Alexis the whole time. He insisted on waiting outside until we came in. So, he stayed there until we arrived. After we hugged him, we asked him to relax and then told him to win.
The Miami-Dade County police department also released a statement about the incident.
As a result of unruly behavior by fans trying to enter the stadium, these incidents have occurred, the statement said. Please follow the rules set forth by our officers and Hard Rock Stadium personnel. We are actively working with Hard Rock Stadium to ensure a safe environment for all attendees. Unruly behavior will result in ejection and/or arrest.
The Miami-Dade Police made a statement after the stadium’s first lockdown. They reported several incidents. These happened before the gates opened for the COPA America final. The issues were caused by fans’ unruly behavior, trying to enter.
According to the news, more than 7 000 people entered the stadium without tickets
Fans crowded the southwest gate of Hard Rock Stadium early, with some arriving as early as 6 a.m., for the Copa América championship match. In the sweltering South Florida heat, a few needed medical treatment and water.
Officers eventually locked down the entrance, though many fans had already taken their seats. A sellout crowd of over 65,000 was expected. CONMEBOL had warned fans to have tickets, but it’s unclear if all who entered did.
The tournament has had many issues. These include bad fields and crowd control problems. After Wednesday’s semifinal, Uruguayan players entered the stands at Bank of America Stadium. They were worried about their families’ safety among opposition fans.