No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCrowd chaos as fans kept waiting outside Conmebol Copa America Final

Crowd chaos as fans kept waiting outside Conmebol Copa America Final

Chaotic scenes delayed the start of the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia on Sunday by over 75 minutes after fans were kept waiting outside the venue for hours.

Tournament organisers halted entry into the ground and delayed kick-off of the South American football showpiece after fans rushed the entrance gates, clashing with security and leading to the gates being closed, two hours before kick off.

Fans were gradually, slowly, alowed into the venue, later, with some needing medical attention mainly for heat exhaustion. Shortly before the scheduled start of the game, gates were opened and fans were allowed to flood in – with no ticket checks.

An AFP reporter on the scene witnessed several fans receiving treatment from paramedics inside the venue and others staggering and needing help from friends before lying down on the floor.

Miami Dade Police said in a statement there had been “several incidents” prior to the game at the venue. “These incidents have been a result of unruly behavior of fans trying to access the stadium,” the statement said.

“We are asking everyone to be patient and abide by the rules set by our officers … unruly behavior will get you ejected and/or arrested. We have a zero tolerance behavior against unruly conduct from everyone attending.”

Treated like animals

Fans however took aim at the organization of the event, with one Argentina supporter saying fans had been treated like “animals.” “They are treating us like animals, basically there’s no organization whatsoever, there is nothing. I mean, they didn’t prepare for 60,000 people,” Cabarelli said. “There is no preparation, people are fainting and passing out.”

Asked if the situation had felt dangerous, Cabarelli said: “100 percent. I’m still shaking. I feel like I’m a cow.” Other fans interviewed described chaotic scenes at the entrance gates, with some fans forcing their way into the venue past security staff as frustration boiled over.

“It was crazy, people were just trying to get in like crazy,” said David Fernandez, a Colombia fan from Gainesville, Florida. “They just didn’t want to wait. They were just rushing over and running over. They’ve opened the gates three different times — it was good for two or three minutes and then everybody was just rushing.”

Rosy Riales said fans lining up in sweltering temperatures had got increasingly frustrated at the failure to open the gates on time. “People are just riled up and excited, so they’re pushing and it’s like mayhem,” she said. “They should have opened the gates sooner to let people in slowly.”

A statement by Copa America organizers on X, formerly Twitter, appeared to suggest the chaos had been caused by unticketed fans attempting to gain entry. “Please be advised that people who do not have tickets will not be able to enter the stadium,” the statement said. “Only those who have purchased tickets will be able to enter once access is reopened”.

The chaos comes amid heightened scrutiny of stadium security at the Copa America following a brawl which marred the end of Wednesday’s semi-final between Colombia and Uruguay. Uruguayan players climbed into the stands and clashed with Colombian fans, claiming family members had been threatened in the aftermath of Uruguay’s 1-0 defeat.

Trending Now

Panama Union Files Lawsuits Against Chiquita Over Mass Layoffs

Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino, will meet in Brazil with U.S. banana company Chiquita Brands in search of an agreement for the company to...

Honduras agrees to receive migrants under new US deportation agreement

The US has signed a new deportation agreement with Honduras, allowing officials to send migrants from other countries there instead of keeping them in...

Route 32 Reopens Following Preventive Closure Over Landslide Risk

Route 32, which connects San José with Limón, was reopened this morning after being closed for nearly 12 hours as a preventive measure due...

Mexico Battles Wildfire Damage with Drone-Based Reforestation

Authorities in the state of Michoacán, in western Mexico, are using drones to scatter seeds from the air in an effort to reforest hundreds...

FBI Recordings Reveal Costa Rica Ex-Minister Celso Gamboa’s Drug Ties

Costa Rican authorities continue to hold former security minister Celso Gamboa in custody as U.S. officials push for his extradition on drug charges. Recent...

The Most Clueless Gringo in Costa Rica: A Satirical Take on Expat Life

If part of your online day includes mindless scrolling through reels, you’ve probably seen the Dos Equis beer parody commercials. The original ads featured the...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica