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The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia was overshadowed by clashes between police and fans after reports of several supporters being left unconscious and injured.
The final of the South American tournament, which took place on Sunday night at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, was delayed by an hour and 15 minutes after videos showed hundreds of ticketless fans breaching the stadium perimeter and gaining access to the venue.
Argentina eventually beat Colombia 1-0 courtesy of a Lautaro Martinez goal, despite national hero Lionel Messi leaving the field in tears in the 64th minute after suffering an ankle injury, but scenes off the field continued to overshadow the final.
At one stage, police closed all entry gates to the stadium apart from one, where they admitted ticket-holding supporters one-by-one in what were chaotic scenes.
Videos showed police removing fans who were sitting in the stairwells of the stadium while the final was being played, while another video showed apparently ticket-less supporters gaining access to Hard Rock Stadium by climbing through vents.
Police managed to close the gates and initiate a lockdown, leading to scores of people stuck outside trying to enter before the match kicked off. Both teams were taken off the field as the chaos brewed outside.
Some players said their families were caught up in the chaos outside and were unable to enter the venue, which will host matches during the 2026 World Cup.
South American football’s governing body Conmebol pushed the start time back three times from 8pm to eventually 9:15pm, when the teams were finally able to line up for the national anthems and begin the match.
“In anticipation of tonight’s Copa America final, thousands of fans without tickets attempted to forcibly enter the stadium, putting other fans, security and law enforcement officers at extreme risk,” a statement from a Hard Rock Stadium spokesperson said.
“Security has shut the gates in order to control the entry process at a much slower rate and ensure everyone is kept safe.”
Miami-Dade police said there were several incidents before the gates were opened at the stadium.
“These incidents have been a result of the unruly behaviour of fans trying to access the stadium,” they said on social media. “We are asking everyone to be patient, and abide by the rules set by our officers and Hard Rock Stadium personnel.”
ESPN reported that for at least one gate, fans with tickets were allowed to enter one at a time.
Posts on social media said some fans had fainted in the chaos and others described people receiving treatment from medics. The families of several Argentina players said they had been caught up in the mayhem.
“He was worried and called us all the time to see how we were doing, and told us he was going to stay at the gate until we could get in,” midfielder Alexis Mac Allister’s mother told TyC Sports.
Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho’s brother, Roberto Garnacho, posted on X: “What a shame Conmebol, the families not being able to enter the stadium, unbelievable.
“We were with [Argentina defender Marcos Acuna’s] family, outside, getting away from the fights... Argentina’s security had to come get us, children of players crying, people entering without tickets, it really is a shame,” he added.
Some fans said they had paid thousands of dollars for tickets and were unable to enter the stadium.
“They opened the gates and let people go through without tickets, with no way of checking if they could get in, we don’t know if they came in with weapons or what they had on them,” a fan told Reuters.
“The Miami police have just arrived, the sheriff and the riot squad are here but the gates are still closed and we can’t get in.”
Another fan hoped that organisers of the 2026 World Cup, being co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada, would take steps to prevent a repeat of the chaos.
“It’s a total mess, they opened them and at least 500 people snuck in. We paid about $10,000 for five tickets and we’re still outside and they won’t open the gate,” the fan said.
Conmebol said they had tightened security following the semi-final between Uruguay and Colombia, when Uruguayan players clashed with Colombian fans after the match ended.
They also confirmed that Shakira’s half-time show in the final would last 20 minutes. Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo had said he disagreed with the extended half-time break beyond the usual 15 minutes because it could affect players’ fitness.
A goal deep into extra-time by Lautaro Martinez gave Argentina a record-breaking 16th Copa America title. Argentina lost a tearful Messi to injury midway through the second half, but Martinez came off the bench in the extra half hour to ensure his captain would lift a third successive major trophy.
The win in Miami followed the 2021 Copa America success and the World Cup triumph in 2022.
Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez had an early chance for the defending champions but Colombia made the brighter start with Liverpool’s Luis Diaz forcing an early save from Camilo Vargas while Jhon Cordoba struck a post.
Alvarez inadvertently blocked an effort from Messi, who went down with what looked like an ankle injury before the break but was able to swing in a free-kick which Nicolas Tagliafico headed over.
The second half saw both teams have spells on the front foot, but neither side were able to seize control - Angel di Maria, in his last international appearance, forcing a couple of saves from Vargas.
Messi went down again just after the hour and this time was unable to continue, limping off to watch on in tears from the bench.
His replacement Nicolas Gonzalez had a couple of chances while Di Maria was unable to sort his feet out to fashion a shot after Colombia gave the ball away cheaply.
Gonzalez had the best chance of the first period of extra time, but could only shoot straight at Vargas following Rodrigo De Paul’s cut back.
Lisandro Martinez produced an excellent block on Miguel Borja as time ran out and within moments Argentina were ahead.
De Paul won the ball near halfway, finding Lautaro Martinez who exchanged passes with fellow substitute Giovani Lo Celso and the tournament’s top scorer made no mistake with a clear view of Vargas’s goal to end Colombia’s run of 28 unbeaten games.