Colombia apologizes after soccer president's arrest at Copa America final in Miami
MIAMI - The Colombian Football Federation apologized after its president was arrested Sunday night at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium during the Copa America final match.
Ramón Jesurún, 71, and his son, Ramón Jamil Jesurún, 43, were charged with battery after they reportedly fought with two security guards and a woman who tried to break up the scuffle.
The federation said it happened after members of their delegation were denied access to the stadium field after the game, despite having credentials and badges. The federation added one of the security guards made a threatening gesture and Jesurún tried to complain about his son being subdued.
"We regret this event and offer apologies to the organizer of the contest, the host country and the people who were affected. President Jesurún deeply regrets these events which should never have happened and which resulted in a paternal and instinctive maneuver to protect his son and his family," the federation said in a statement.
"We are human and anything can happen. But they started it first. It was ridiculous," Jesurún's son said to reporters as they bonded out of jail Monday night.
His father waved his credentials and said: "This credential is for me. It says 'total access' and the security guard, one of those who wanted to feel important, didn't recognize it, and insisted I couldn't go in and he pushed me."
Chaos during the Copa America final
Video that has gone viral showed fans pushing and shoving at the stadium's security gates just before the game started. Others scaled security barriers to get in only to be subdued by officers. Still others are seen running away from some of the more than 800 officers at the Copa America game that was attended by more than 65,000 people.
Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 to become back-to-back continental champions.
"Hard Rock Stadium has safely hosted hundreds of world-class events in its 37-year history. Hard Rock Stadium worked collaboratively with CONMEBOL, CONCACAF and local law enforcement agencies on security. We will evaluate the protocols and processes in place across all aspects of Stadium Operations," a spokesman for Hard Rock Stadium said in a statement.
On Tuesday, Miami-Dade Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez acknowledged that county authorities and organizers need to improve their security plan ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup since Miami will be hosting seven games for that international soccer tournament.
"I chair a public safety committee and we need to do a better job to make sure we are prepared for upcoming events like the World Cup. We have to have better preparation and I plan to be part of the discussions to make sure that happens," Bermudez said.
Bermudez also sent an email to the Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Commissioner Oliver Gilbert to discuss plans moving forward.
Mayor Cava said there will be a full review of what happened at the Copa America final game on Sunday night.