Colombian Football Federation President Arrested in Miami

• Ramón Jesurún Franco was arrested along with his son, Ramón Jamil, following an incident in an elevator at the Hard Rock Stadium | Photo: Colprensa

The president of the Colombian Football Federation (FCF), Ramón Jesurún Franco, and his son, Ramón Jamil, were arrested by the Miami-Dade Police (Florida) following an incident that occurred in the stadium where the match took place this Sunday, July 14 Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia.

Jesurún, 71 years old, and his son, 43 years old, were arrested following an incident in an elevator at Hard Rock Stadium, following the match in which Argentina beat Colombia 1-0, a game that was marked by disorder and chaos caused by thousands of ticketless fans who broke through the security barriers.

Both face lesser charges and are due to appear in Miami-Dade bail court on Monday, July 15, according to court records and local media.

Details regarding the arrest remain unclear, although the Colombian media outlet Publimetro reports that Jesurún had an altercation in the stadium during the final.

Chaos in the Copa America final

Miami-Dade authorities are investigating the failures that led to the chaos, violence and destruction experienced in the final of the 2024 Copa América, where many fans who bought tickets were unable to enter the match on Sunday and also suffered blows and fainting due to the high temperatures.

Photo: EFE

Hours before the start of the match, hundreds of people without tickets broke through security barriers, climbed over fences and jumped over the turnstiles to enter the venue, a situation that caused chaos, stampedes and forced the closure of the gates, as well as delaying the start of the match.

At least two other people were arrested following a crowd of ticketless fans attacked stadium employees and security teams to gain entry to the facilities, local media such as Telemundo reported.

Videos posted on social media showed fans jumping over gates in the southwest corner of the stadium in Miami Gardens and running to avoid being hit by law enforcement officers and staff.

There were even images of fans trying to enter through the stadium’s ventilation ducts.

Conmebol is held responsible

Hard Rock Stadium said on its X account on Sunday that “thousands of fans without tickets tried to force their way into the stadium (…)” so “security closed the doors to control the entry process at a much slower pace.”

Statement from a Hard Rock Stadium spokesperson pic.twitter.com/8hZnElGQt0

— Hard Rock Stadium (@HardRockStadium) July 15, 2024

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and local police chief Jaime Reyes have made it clear that responsibility for what happened last night lies with Conmebol, the governing body for soccer in South America.

“The Copa America is organized by Conmebol and the Miami-Dade Police provide support,” explained the mayor.

With information from EFE

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