Colombian Football Federation President Arrested After Copa America Final Chaos

Colombian Football Federation President Arrested in Miami After Copa America Final Chaos

Colombian Football Federation president Ramon Jesurun was arrested in Miami during the chaotic Copa America final on Sunday night, according to a police report. Jesurun was charged with "assault on officer/employee" after a confrontation with security guards at Hard Rock Stadium.

The incident occurred after Argentina defeated Colombia 1-0 in extra time. Jesurun and his family were denied access to the field for the awards ceremony, leading to a confrontation with a security guard. Jesurun's son reportedly confronted the guard, and Jesurun himself became involved in the dispute.

Police officers intervened and arrested Jesurun. He was later released on bond.

The arrest was part of a larger incident that saw 27 arrests and 55 ejections from the stadium. Spectators stormed the gates, pushing people to the ground and trying to sneak into the stadium through air conditioning ducts. The start of the match was delayed by 80 minutes due to the chaos.

Miami-Dade police director Stephanie Daniels praised her officers' response to the situation. "I'm very proud of our officers' response to a volatile situation and for their hard work in keeping our community safe," she said.

South American football governing body CONMEBOL said in a statement that it had suggested procedures to security organizers that were not used. CONMEBOL expressed regret that the violence had tarnished the final.

Jesurun is a vice president of CONMEBOL and has been president of the Colombian Football Federation since 2015. He is a controversial figure in Colombian football, having been accused of corruption and mismanagement.

Tags: #CopaAmerica, #RamonJesurun, #Arrest, #Miami, #Football