Fans breach security gates at Hard Rock Stadium, delaying start of Copa America final

The Argentine and Colombian fans’ passion for their national soccer teams was palpable long before kickoff of the Copa America final at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday night, but some fans were so desperate to get in that they stormed gates and breached security, forcing police to temporarily lock down the entrances.

Kickoff was delayed from 8 p.m. to 9:20 p.m. as a result, as thousands of fans were stranded outside the gates, waiting to get in. At one point, with a growing concern for a potential stampede that could injure fans, stadium management, CONMEBOL and the Miami Dade Police Department conferred and decided to open the gates and let people in without checking tickets.

“In collaboration with CONMEBOL and law enforcement officers, a decision was made to open the stadium gates for a short period of time to all fans in order to prevent stampedes and serious injury at the perimeter,” said a Hard Rock Stadium spokesperson. “There was serious concern of fans being crushed in order to enter. Law enforcement and security personnel were immediately deployed throughout the stadium and surrounding area to keep fans as safe as possible in light of this unprecedented situation.”

Despite the efforts of security personnel, photos and videos emerged on social media of fans climbing atop the stadium ticket booth to enter a concourse and others climbing in through some sort of vent. The 72 Club entrance and escalator were trashed by fans who stormed in and other parts of the stadium were damaged.

Once the crowd quelled, security guards resumed checking for tickets.

Hours after the game ended, a Hard Rock Stadium spokesperson released this statement:

“Hard Rock Stadium takes pride in hosting world-class events year-round in a safe and successful manner. For the Copa America Final, the venue worked in collaboration with CONMEBOL, CONCACAF and local law enforcement agencies. Preparations included an increase in the number of law enforcement officers and security on-hand, with more than double the personnel than a typical at-capacity stadium event.

“Throughout the afternoon and evening, there were numerous attempts by unruly fans without tickets to overpower security and law enforcement personnel at entry points to the stadium, putting themselves, other fans and security and stadium staff at extreme risk. Various stadium gates were closed and re-opened strategically in an attempt to allow ticketed guests to enter safely and in a controlled manner. Fans continued to engage in illegal conduct — fighting police officers, breaking down walls and barricades and vandalizing the stadium, causing significant damage to the property.

“When it became apparent that it would not be safe to start the match at 8 p.m., a joint decision was made to postpone. Shortly after 8 p.m., stadium officials, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF and law enforcement officers communicated and decided to open stadium gates for a short period of time to all fans to prevent stampedes and serious injury at the perimeter. The gates were then closed once the threat of fans being crushed was alleviated. At that time, the venue was at capacity and gates were not re-opened. Shortly after the match started, alcohol sales were stopped and event organizers instituted a detailed plan and increased security presence to allow for a peaceful egress upon the conclusion of the match.

“We understand there are disappointed ticket holders who were not able to enter the stadium after the perimeter was closed, and we will work in partnership with CONMEBOL to address those individual concerns. Ultimately, there is nothing more important than the health and safety of all guests and staff, and that will always remain our priority.

“We are grateful to the law enforcement officers who managed a difficult situation and prioritized the safety of the venue, the players, their families and the fans. We will continue to work with law enforcement to identify and hold criminals accountable who engaged in illegal conduct tonight. It is disappointing that a night of celebration was impacted by unlawful and unsafe behavior, and we will fully review the processes and protocols in place tonight and work with law enforcement to ensure such an event never happens again.”

Daniella Levine Cava, mayor of Miami-Dade County, and chief public safety officer James Reyes condemned the security breach and vowed to fully investigate what led to the mayhem. They pointed out that the Miami Dade Police Department assigned 550 officers, including the Priority Response Team, to the stadium. the MDPD also brought in personnel from other jurisdictions to aid in the effort.

“We are outraged by the unprecedented events at tonight’s Copa America finals,” read the statement. “The Copa America final is organized by CONMEBOL, and Miami-Dade Police Department provides security support along with other law enforcement agencies. Let’s be clear: This situation should never have taken place and cannot happen again. We will work with stadium leadership to ensure that a full review of tonight’s events takes place immediately to evaluate the full chain of events, in order to put in place needed protocols and policies for all future games.”

Tickets to the highly anticipated match were selling for $1,500 to $8,000. South Florida is home to more than 300,000 Colombian and Argentine immigrants, and Colombian artist Shakira performed at halftime, increasing the demand for tickets.

Both sets of fans, among the most fun-loving in Latin America, partied side by side without incident in the parking lots for hours all afternoon, singing, dancing and posing for photos together. But things got tense once the crowd tried to enter the stadium gates.

“A bunch of fans stormed one of the gates and went into the stadium while the stadium was still closed,” said Detective Luis Sierra of the Miami-Dade Police Department.

As of 7 p.m., Sierra said several people had been detained but did not have an exact number.

Soon after, the police department tweeted: “We have had several incidents prior to the gates opening at Hard Rock Stadium for the Copa America final game. These incidents have been the result of the unruly behavior of fans trying to access the stadium. We are asking everyone to be patient, adding that there was a “ZERO TOLERANCE” policy for unruly conduct. “Unruly behavior will get you ejected and/or arrested,” the department warned.

Once the game began, police officers entered the stands, checked for tickets row by row and non-ticket holders were asked to leave.

The incident comes amid heightened security at the Copa America tournament following a postgame brawl at Wednesday’s semifinal between Colombia and Uruguay at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Uruguayan players, claiming their family members were being attacked and bullied by Colombian fans, climbed into the stands and a fight ensued.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni had urged fans to behave leading up to the final game.

“The final game should be a party centered around the joy of playing to winning a title,” Scaloni said. “Those images [from the brawl] were very ugly and sad. Anybody who was in that situation would have reacted the same way, seeing your family members, wives, kids, mothers, in danger. We ask our players to be good role models, but when they see their family in that situation, it is natural to react the way those young men did.”

Scaloni said when he was a player for Argentina, they faced a similar situation at Maracana Stadium in Brazil and went into the stands to protect their loved ones.

“I hope nothing like that happens Sunday, from the bottom of my heart,” Scaloni said. “May the fans of Colombia and Argentina enjoy this event. We will all have friends and family there and don’t want to have to worry if something will happen to them. Those images were like something from 50 years ago and should not be happening.”

The mother of Argentine player Alexis Mac Allister told TyCSports that her son had to leave the locker room before the game to help the family enter the stadium. She called the situation “inhumane.” There were reports and photos of women and children crying and suffering from heat exhaustion in the crowded entryways.

The pregame security breach at Hard Rock Stadium Sunday night marred what had been a festive atmosphere leading up to the match between defending champion Argentina, led by Inter Miami star Lionel Messi, and resurgent Colombia, led by James Rodriguez.

An estimated 7,000 Colombians showed up outside Le Meridien hotel in Dania Beach on Saturday night to celebrate the team, which was staying there. They played music, danced, and set off fireworks at the banderazo (pep rally) as the players waved from the hotel entrance.

South Florida’s Argentine neighborhoods and restaurants were awash in sky blue and white for days.