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

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

Ramon Jesurun, who is also the vice president of CONMEBOL and has been a member of the FIFA Council since 2016, and his son, Ramon Jamil Jesurun, were arrested around 12:30 a.m. ET Monday and booked on three counts of felony battery on an official, per the arrest affidavit.

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

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

Ramon Jesurun, 71, and Ramon Jamil Jesurun, 43, attempted to access an area of the tunnel at the stadium where media gathered after the match when they were stopped by a security officer, according to the arrest affidavit. The altercation turned physical when the officer “placed an open palm on (Ramon Jamil Jesurun’s) chest to guide him back” and Ramon Jamil Jesurun then grabbed the officer “around his neck” and pulled the officer to the ground, according to the affidavit. Ramon Jamil Jesurun threw “two punches that impacted” the officer, then “directed a direct kick” to the officer’s head while he was on the ground, per the affidavit.

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

The Colombian FA did not immediately return a request for comment.

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

Thousands of supporters were prevented from entering, with many attempting to gain entry without tickets. This led to the closure of security gates around 6 p.m. ET. Kick-off was initially postponed to 8:30 p.m. ET, then further delayed until 9:22 p.m. ET.

Copa América security. One gate open in SW corner, 90 mins before kick-off. Thousands of very hot fans out there. Problem waiting to happen. Not good pic.twitter.com/glEgYV2VAG

— Jack Lang (@jacklang) July 14, 2024

The incidents resulted in extensive property damage, injuries to stadium personnel, law enforcement officers and innocent patrons. A statement from Miami-Dade County confirmed there were 27 arrests and 55 ejections from the stadium grounds.

“Last night our law enforcement teams responded swiftly to handle an extremely challenging, dangerous situation posing life safety concerns for attendees. I am grateful to every single member of MDPD, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation as well as our partner agencies for working together to keep fans and our community safe, preventing any major incidents,” chief public safety officer James Reyes said. “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.”

Director of Miami-Dade County, Stephanie V. Daniels, added: “I am very proud of our officers’ response to a volatile situation and for their hard work in keeping our community safe, as well as our law enforcement partners who provided key support.

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

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

Fans spoken to by The Athletic blamed CONMEBOL, the South American football governing body, for the poor organization. Authorities, including the Miami-Dade Police Department, cited “unruly behavior” for the disruptions, while stadium organizers emphasized the need for safety and controlled entry for ticketed guests.

“In light of this situation, CONMEBOL was subject to the decisions made by the Hard Rock Stadium authorities, in accordance with the contractual responsibilities established for security operations. In addition to the provisions determined in this contract, CONMEBOL recommended to these authorities the procedures proven in events of this magnitude, which were NOT taken into account,” the confederation said in a statement on its website. “We regret that the acts of violence caused by ill-intentioned individuals have marred a final that was ready to be a great celebration of the sport.”

Daniella Levine Cava, mayor of Miami-Dade County, later condemned the scenes in a joint statement with Reyes, before pledging to fully investigate the causes.