During Sunday’s Copa America final, Ramón Jesurún, the head of the Colombian Football Federation, was arrested for felony battery charges related to his conduct.
According to records from the Miami-Dade Police, Ramón Jesurún, who is the leader of the Colombian Football Federation, was arrested after the Copa America final on Sunday. He is now facing three charges of felony battery.
During a tumultuous event that resulted in 27 arrests and 55 ejections from the Hard Rock Stadium, Jesurún and his son, Ramon Jamil Jesurun, were also taken into custody.
The 71-year-old soccer official, Jesurun, has been charged with three counts of battery against a law enforcement official or event employee. He was taken into custody on Monday and has been ordered to pay a bond of $1,000 for the first two charges. As of 5 p.m. ET Monday, Jesurun remains in the custody of law enforcement.
The recent Copa America tournament was marred with chaos and shameful scenes. Due to poor organization, the stadium was overrun with fans, with children even being seen gasping for breath in the overcrowded stands.
The extent of the injuries sustained by Lionel Messi was also revealed through gruesome images, leaving fans concerned about player safety. These incidents highlight the need for better planning and safety measures in sports events to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Before the scheduled 8 p.m. ET tip-off of the Copa America final on Sunday, some unpleasant scenes unfolded. The Miami region hosts one of the largest diaspora populations for both competing teams, Argentina and Colombia. This resulted in a huge demand for tickets on the secondary market, which began at $1,300.
The hunger for the continental final led to fans resorting to illegal means to enter the NFL stadium, as captured in video footage. Some fans were seen climbing over stadium gates, while others entered through vents. This resulted in ticketed patrons finding their seats already taken by trespassers, and overwhelmed event staff were unable to assist the affected fans.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Miami Dade Police urged everyone to remain patient and comply with the regulations set by their officers and the personnel at the Hard Rock Stadium. The authorities are working closely with the stadium to ensure the safety of all attendees, and are committed to creating a secure environment for the event.
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s statement confirmed that 550 MDPD law enforcement officers were present at Sunday’s game. The statement also emphasized the zero-tolerance policy towards unruly behavior and warned that anyone engaging in such conduct will face ejection and/or arrest.
Hard Rock Stadium organizers have confirmed that event organizers allowed fans to enter without checking their tickets, as captured in stadium footage. The decision was made to prevent a potentially dangerous stampede at the entry gates. The governing body of Copa America and South American soccer, CONMEBOL, has faced significant criticism for the events that took place on Sunday. Miami-Dade County Mayor Danielle Cava was among those who spoke out against the situation.
Cava expressed his outrage towards the unprecedented events that took place during the Copa America finals. He stated that Conmebol was responsible for organizing the event, and the Miami-Dade Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies, provided security support.
MDPD increased its personnel by calling in additional support from other jurisdictions to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved. It is important to note that this incident should never have occurred and measures must be taken to prevent it from happening again.
After a visibly overcrowded stadium caused a delay of over an hour, Argentina secured their second consecutive Copa America with an extra-time goal from Lautaro Martinez. The “inhumane” conditions harmed the La Albiceleste players despite their victory, which midfielder Alexis Mac Allister described as a “disaster” to reporters after the game. In fact, Mac Allister even left the locker room early to ensure the safety of his family.