The 71-year-old president of Colombia’s football federation and his son were detained in Miami, accused of clashing with security staff following the Copa America final that witnessed chaotic scenes around the stadium, Miami-Dade police confirmed on Monday.
Sunday’s final, in which Colombia was defeated by Argentina, commenced over an hour late due to a police lockdown that left hundreds of spectators stranded outside Florida’s Hard Rock Stadium. Footage on social media depicted security personnel grappling with fans trying to force their way through the gates.
Ramon Jeserun, the federation president, and his 43-year-old son Ramon Jamil were both apprehended after an incident at the stadium shortly after midnight, as per arrest reports by Miami police, which charged both individuals with battery.
Jeserun and his son faced charges following a confrontation with security guards in a tunnel where media representatives were gathered post-match, according to the police reports.
A security guard in uniform was assigned to control the crowd. According to the police, Jeserun’s son seized the guard by the neck, threw him to the ground, and then proceeded to punch and kick him in the head.
The Colombian football federation chose not to comment on the incident.
During Sunday’s Copa America final, over two dozen fans were arrested and more than 50 individuals were ejected from the venue, which had over 800 law enforcement officers on duty.
This event marked the second occasion that the United States has hosted the Americas’ premier national team football tournament, which was established more than a century ago.
In a statement released on Monday, Hard Rock Stadium indicated that it had bolstered its security measures for the match, deploying “more than double the personnel than a typical at-capacity stadium event.”
After the gates were closed and then reopened, the venue reported that “fans continued to engage in illegal conduct – fighting with police officers, dismantling walls and barricades, and vandalising the stadium, resulting in significant property damage.”
The stadium, which can accommodate more than 65,000 spectators, is set to host seven games during the 2026 World Cup.
