Chaos Erupts at Copa America Final as Fans Stuck Outside Hard Rock Stadium
The highly anticipated Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia turned into a chaotic scene prior to kickoff, as thousands of fans were stuck and increasingly crushed outside Hard Rock Stadium gates. The situation was dire, with fans, including children and families of players, suffering in the sweltering heat and humidity.
For an extended period, all stadium gates were closed, leading to a delay in the scheduled 8 p.m. kickoff. The match eventually began at 9:22 p.m. local time. The chaos began when some un-ticketed fans breached at least one main entry gate, prompting a forceful police response and a lockdown of the breached gate.
The situation only worsened as fans, including ticket holders, were unable to enter the stadium. Many were left stuck outside, with some reporting that they had paid hundreds or even thousands of dollars for tickets to the final. The atmosphere was tense, with some fans becoming agitated and desperate to get inside.
A Timeline of Chaos
- 7:45 p.m.: The situation begins to escalate as fans become frustrated and agitated outside the stadium gates.
- 8:15 p.m.: Gates open briefly, allowing fans to enter one by one, but are then closed again due to the large crowd.
- 8:30 p.m.: The match is delayed, with no official word on when it will begin.
- 9:22 p.m.: The match finally kicks off, with Argentina and Colombia taking to the pitch.
The Aftermath
The scenes outside Hard Rock Stadium were described as "difficult to understand" by Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who said that some players spent an hour outside the stadium, concerned about the well-being of their family members. The chaos has raised questions about the organization and security measures in place for the tournament.
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