The head of the Colombian Football Federation, Ramón Jesurún, and his son, Ramón Jamil, were arrested following an altercation during the Copa America final in Miami on Sunday. The 71-year-old football official and his 43-year-old son were taken into custody by the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) on charges of battery involving a sports official or employee.
The incident occurred after Colombia’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Argentina in extra time. A statement from the MDPD indicated that the altercation began as Ramón and his son were walking towards the entrance of the field at the Hard Rock Stadium. The pair became irate and started shouting at a security officer who had been instructed to temporarily delay their access.
According to the police report, the officer placed an open palm on Ramón Jamil’s chest to guide him back, which led to Ramón Jesurún pushing the officer. His son then escalated the situation by grabbing the officer’s neck, pulling him to the ground, and striking him. Ramón Jamil also assaulted a female official who attempted to intervene and punched a security manager.
The altercation is believed to have started as Ramón Jesurún and his family members were trying to gain access to the pitch for the awards ceremony. Neither Ramón nor his son has commented publicly on the incident.
The Copa America final faced an 80-minute delay at the start after ticketless fans forced their way into the stadium, resulting in several clashes with police and security personnel. This led to multiple arrests and several supporters needing medical attention from paramedics.
The incident has drawn significant attention and raised concerns about security measures at major sporting events, highlighting the challenges faced by event organizers in managing high-profile occasions.
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