Hundreds of Colombian fans crash gate as absolute CHAOS breaks out before Copa America final against Argentina in Miami

Hundreds of Colombian fans breached nan gates astatine Hard Rock Stadium and galore different spectators were astir crushed successful a chaotic segment earlier Sunday's Copa America Final against Argentina. As a result, organizers pushed nan 8pm kickoff backmost to 8:30. 

Scores of fans successful yellowish Colombian jerseys were seen forcing unfastened robust gates and moving onto nan stadium grounds. It's unclear really galore fans had tickets and really galore were simply gross crashers. A time earlier, organizers told fans not to recreation to Hard Rock Stadium unless they had a ticket. 

Around a twelve group person been arrested and different 7 were seen receiving aesculapian curen from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, USA Today reported. In 1 convulsive incident, a man wearing what appeared to beryllium a reporter's credential walked done nan media entrance, only to beryllium tackled and handcuffed by officers. 

Miami-Dade constabulary told ESPN that nan stadium's southwest gross had been breached, prompting officers to wholly unopen it down. Later, successful a statement, constabulary said they will person a 'ZERO TOLERANCE' argumentation for immoderate unruly behavior. 

'We person had respective incidents anterior to nan gates opening astatine Hard Rock Stadium for nan COPA America last game,' publication a constabulary statement. 'These incidents person been a consequence of nan unruly behaviour of fans trying to entree nan stadium. We are asking everyone to beryllium patient, and abide by nan rules group by our officers and Hard Rock Stadium personnel.'

The business was eerily akin to nan 2020 Euro final astatine Wembley successful 2021, erstwhile hundreds of English fans stormed nan gates and were capable to unit their measurement into nan stadium.  

Sunday's highly anticipated last featuring Argentina's Lionel Messi is a sellout, meaning nary less than 65,000 summons holders and different fans were baking successful nan 90-degree power for hours earlier kickoff. At 1 point, organizers rolled a canopy retired complete nan heads of immoderate fans who were waiting to enter. Others who became overwhelmed by nan power were seen receiving water.

'It was crazy, group were conscionable trying to get successful for illustration crazy,' David Fernandez, a Colombia instrumentality from Florida, told nan AFP. 

'They conscionable didn't want to wait. They were conscionable rushing complete and moving over. They've opened nan gates 3 different times -- it was bully for 2 aliases 3 minutes and past everybody was conscionable rushing.' 

Another fan, Rosey Riales, told nan AFP that nan masses had grown impatient waiting for nan gates to open. 

'People are conscionable riled up and excited, truthful they're pushing and it's for illustration mayhem,' she told AFP. 'They should person opened nan gates sooner to fto group successful slowly.' 

There was expected to beryllium heightened information astatine Sunday's lucifer pursuing nan post-game brawl that marred Colombia's semifinal triumph complete Uruguay. Several players rushed into nan stands to brawl pinch Colombian fans, who were accused of harassing nan players' families during their team's 1-0 win. 

That heightened information led to agelong lines and masses of group crowding nan southwest gross of nan stadium. People struggled to move done nan crowds arsenic only a fewer group were fto successful astatine a time.

Near nan property entrance, a push of group led to 1 female requesting aesculapian attention. One constabulary serviceman was seen drafting his baton but did not usage it.