CONMEBOL Criticizes Miami Stadium Officials for Copa América Final Chaos

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) has pointed fingers at stadium officials in Miami for the chaotic scenes that marred the Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia. The match, held at the Hard Rock Stadium, experienced a delay of over an hour due to thousands of ticketless fans attempting to storm the venue.

CONMEBOL's statement highlighted that the disruption occurred because local stadium officials did not follow established procedures for handling large events. The organization expressed regret that the disorderly conduct by some individuals overshadowed what was meant to be a celebratory sporting event.

The statement read: "In the final played in Miami, fans without tickets went to the vicinity of the stadium, which delayed the normal access of the people who did have them, slowing down entry and leading to the closure of doors. CONMEBOL was subject to the decisions made by the Hard Rock Stadium authorities, in accordance with the contractual responsibilities established for the security operation. Despite recommending tested procedures for events of this magnitude, these were not taken into account."

The match, which Argentina won 1-0, was initially delayed by 30 minutes, with an additional 15-minute delay following, ultimately kicking off an hour and 15 minutes later. Stadium authorities issued a statement on social media, explaining that the gates were closed to manage the entry process safely, emphasizing the risk posed to fans, security personnel, and law enforcement by the unruly crowd.

This incident has raised questions about the preparedness and coordination between CONMEBOL and local stadium officials, especially for high-stakes events like the Copa América final.