Colombia federation prez arrested at Copa final

Colombia Football Federation president Ramón Jesurún and his son Ramón Jamil Jesurún are facing three felony counts of battery on a specified official or employee after being arrested by Miami-Dade Police at Hard Rock Stadium following the 2024 Copa América final.

The two individuals were booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center just after 4:10 a.m. Monday, according to jail records. The father, 71, and son, 43, are accused of fighting multiple security guards at one of the stadium’s tunnels used for the media at around 12:20 a.m. ET as they tried to gain access to the field, according to the arrest report.

Colombia lost the final 1-0 to Argentina after extra time in a game that was marred by crowd chaos in the runup, forcing the kickoff to be delayed. Miami-Dade police reported on Monday that there were 27 arrests and 55 ejections on Sunday after people without tickets had forced their way into Hard Rock Stadium.

The police report goes on to say that the altercation with the Jesurúns turned physical once the security officer asked the men to step back by placing his palm on Ramón Jamil to “guide him back.” According to the officer, the duo quickly “became irate” at a guard and began “shouting” at him.

Jesurún’s bail is set for $2000, and $1000 for his son. Both individuals were scheduled to appear in Miami-Dade bond court Monday afternoon.

In addition to being the Colombia Football Federation president, the 71-year-old also serves on the FIFA Council, the “strategic and oversight body” for soccer’s global governing body.

“We are working with the event organizers to conduct a comprehensive review of all safety and security protocols, as we continue to prepare for the World Cup in 2026,” Chief Public Safety Officer James Reyes said.

It was a chaotic scene just hours before the scheduled 8 p.m. start of the championship match between the two South American countries: Fans forced their way in, jumped over security railings and ran past police officers and stadium attendants, some appearing hysterical as they searched for the people they arrived with.

There appeared to be significant damage to the venue as a result. Video and images posted to social media showed the shattered side railings of an escalator inside the stadium, with shoes, soda cans, reading glasses and articles of clothing left behind. Security railings at a checkpoint in the southwest entrance to the stadium were bent over as thousands of people, including crying children, pushed against them.

The department said over 800 law enforcement officers were at the event.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.