In Miami on Sunday, Argentina defeated Colombia in extra time to win their third consecutive major championship, while a distraught Lionel Messi probably bid adieu to international soccer during a Copa América final that was postponed due to crowd unrest.
Argentina: Lautaro Martinez’s Heroics
After entering as a replacement, forward Lautaro Martinez scored the game-winning goal deep into extra time to secure a 1-0 victory for the world champions. This victory stopped Colombia’s 28-game winning streak and gave Argentina their record 16th Copa América title.
Following a fierce contest, Argentina’s 37-year-old captain Messi was replaced in the second half due to what appeared to be an ankle injury. This will likely be Messi’s final appearance at a big international tournament. The legendary soccer player was moved as he nursed his injured right ankle and watched the action from the sideline.
ARGENTINA CONSIGUIÓ 4 TÍTULOS EN LOS ÚLTIMOS 3 AÑOS:
🏆 CAMPEÓN DE AMÉRICA 2021, vs Brasil en el Maracaná.
🏆 CAMPEÓN FINALISSIMA 2022, vs Italia.
🏆 CAMPEÓN MUNDIAL 2022, vs Francia.
🏆 CAMPEÓN DE AMÉRICA 2024, vs Colombia.La época más gloriosa de toda su historia. pic.twitter.com/TI04ON0YOX
— Messismo (@Messismo10) July 15, 2024
But when the final whistle blew, the tears turned to applause as a limping Messi gave a broad smile to his coaches and colleagues before hoisting the trophy while triumphant Argentine supporters serenaded the winners.
Crowd Unrest and Delayed Kickoff
The scenes of joy marked the end of a wild evening in Florida, when, according to a spokesman for the stadium, “thousands of fans without tickets attempted to forcibly enter the stadium,” causing kickoff at the sold-out 65,300-capacity Hard Rock Stadium to be delayed for more than an hour.
Photos and video from outside the stadium showed massive overcrowding, with visibly distressed women and children among thousands of fans stuck outside the gates. At least one photo showed fans falling on top of each other at an overturned crush barrier.
Video from CNN affiliate WSVN also showed some fans climbing the stadium walls in an attempt to gain entry. It is unclear if any fans or security personnel were injured. The gates were later reopened “for a short period to all fans to prevent stampedes and serious injury at the perimeter,” the stadium spokesperson said in an update.
Security Measures and Safety Concerns
“There was grave fear that supporters might be crushed while trying to get in. In light of this exceptional situation, law enforcement and security professionals were immediately deployed across the stadium and its environs to ensure the safety of the fans,” the report stated. Several incidents happened as a “result of unruly behavior and fans trying to access the stadium,” according to the Miami-Dade Police Department. CNN has contacted law enforcement to obtain additional details.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Chief Public Safety Officer James Reyes expressed their displeasure at the “unprecedented events” in a joint statement, stating that the authorities would look into what caused the mayhem. The statement continued, “Let’s be clear: This situation should never have happened and cannot happen again.”
Implications for FIFA and Future Events
The pictures are also sure to worry FIFA, the global governing body of soccer, as the stadium has been permitted to host the 2026 World Cup. The South American soccer body CONMEBOL is in charge of organizing the Copa América. Following unpleasant circumstances during Colombia’s semifinal victory against Uruguay in Charlotte, North Carolina, there was chaos in Miami on Sunday.
Following a hard-fought game on Wednesday, players from both teams sparred on the field, and live footage on television showed Uruguayan players arguing with supporters as they entered the stands.
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