Colombian Football Federation president, son arrested amid chaos at Copa America final

The president of the Colombia Football Federation and his son were arrested early Monday by Miami-Dade police following chaos at the Copa America final in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Sunday night, according to an arrest affidavit.

Ramon Jesurun, who is also vice president of CONMEBOL and a FIFA Council member since 2016, and his son, Ramon Jamil Jesurun, were arrested around 12:30 a.m. ET on Monday and charged with three counts of felony criminal conspiracy. . According to the official, arrest affidavit.

Both men are accused of fighting security guards near a tunnel where media gathered around 12:20 a.m. Monday, according to an arrest affidavit.

The incident occurred following the Copa America final between Colombia and Argentina, which Lionel Scaloni’s team won 1–0 after extra time.

According to an arrest affidavit, 71-year-old Ramon Jesurun and 43-year-old Ramon Jamil Jesurun attempted to access an area of ​​the tunnel at the stadium where media had gathered after the match when they were stopped by a security officer. According to the affidavit, the altercation escalated when the officer “placed an open palm on (Ramon Jamil Jesurun’s) chest to push him back” and then Ramon Jamil Jesurun grabbed the officer “around the neck” and the officer Pulled to the ground. According to the affidavit, Ramon Jamil Jesurun punched the officer “two times with impact,” then “kicked him directly” while the officer was on the ground.

Jesurun and Ramon Jamil were Jesurun Turner was booked into the Guilford Night Correctional Center at about 4:15 a.m. Monday, just hours after the loss to Argentina, according to jail records.

The Colombian FA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia was delayed due to chaotic scenes outside the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Thousands of supporters were prevented from entering, many attempting to gain entry without tickets. This caused the security gates to be closed around 6 pm ET. Kick-off was initially postponed to 8:30 pm ET, then delayed to 9:22 pm ET.

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These incidents resulted in massive property damage, injuries to stadium personnel, law enforcement officials, and innocent patrons. A statement from Miami-Dade County confirmed that 27 arrests were made and 55 people were evacuated from the stadium grounds.

“Last night our law enforcement teams responded swiftly to handle an extremely challenging, dangerous situation that posed life safety concerns for attendees. “I thank MDPD, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation, as well as our partners for working together to keep fans and our community safe and prevent any major incidents,” said James, Chief Public Safety Officer. I am grateful to every member of the agencies. Reyes said. “We are working with event organizers to conduct a comprehensive review of all safety and security protocols as we continue to prepare for the World Cup in 2026.”

Miami-Dade County Director Stephanie V. Daniels said: “I am extremely proud of our officers’ response to a volatile situation and their hard work in keeping our community safe, as well as our law enforcement partners who provided critical assistance Is it.” ,

“As part of the full analysis of last night’s game, we will review the protocols put in place to ensure an orderly, safe and secure environment for all future events.”

Several arrests were made for assaulting a police officer and trespassing. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue set up a station inside the gate to assist people suffering from heat exhaustion, as temperatures reached 88 degrees.

talked to fans athletic Blamed South American football governing body CONMEBOL for poor organization. Authorities, including the Miami-Dade Police Department, cited “unruly behavior” for the disruption, while stadium organizers stressed the need for security and controlled entry for ticketed guests.

“In light of this situation, CONMEBOL was subject to decisions taken by the Hard Rock Stadium authorities, in accordance with established contractual responsibilities for security operations. In addition to the provisions set out in this contract, CONMEBOL recommended to these authorities proven procedures in incidents of this magnitude, which were not taken into account,” the confederation said in a statement on its website. “We regret that acts of violence perpetrated by individuals with ill intentions have spoiled a final that was set to be a great celebration of the game.”

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniela Levine Cava later condemned the scenes in a joint statement with Reyes, before promising to fully investigate the cause.

(Photo by Ramon Jesurun: Andres Rot/FIFA via Getty Images)