Copa America final raises questions, family filed for a lawsuit

DORAL, FL – The Copa America final celebrated last Sunday, July 14, at Hard Rock Stadium between Argentina and Colombia continues to be the main topic of conversation among fans for all the wrong reasons. One family already filed for a lawsuit. 

Fans are not only talking about their team walk to victory, or about how to get over the loss of a much-anticipated tournament as it was the case for Colombian fans who saw the cup slip from their hands on Lautaro Martínez’s 112th-minute goal. Their main concern now revolves around the events that took place before Argentina was able to beat Colombia 1-0.

Players of both teams were ready to roll the ball at 8:00 p.m. but in reality, they did at 9:15 p.m. due to the more than chaotic scene unveiling outside of the field where hundreds of fans rushed to get inside, some with paid tickets, while others with fake ones or simply no tickets at all.

This left several paid ticket holders without a seat for overcapacity, while Miami-Dade Police arrested 27 people and 55 more were kicked out of the stadium in the midst of crying children, fainted fans, others seeping through ventilation ducts or climbing through walls and trees, and property damage. 

One family of four is ready to start a fight against Hard Rock Stadium and CONMEBOL for the dismal incidents. They paid more than $4,000 for their tickets only to be denied access at the entrance. 

“When they arrived to watch the game, they were told, ‘You can’t come in.’ And why couldn’t they? Because they let in thousands and thousands of people without tickets,” the family’s attorney, Irwin Ast, explained.

The morning after the match, the family reached out to Ast who encouraged them to claim their money, arguing neither Hard Rock Stadium nor CONMEBOL guaranteed a safe environment for attendees who purchased their tickets. 

The lawsuit is based on Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA), demanding compensation of $50,000. “Selling tickets and then denying access is illegal,” the lawyer stressed to Telemundo 51.

But even though they are the only fans known to have started taking legal action, still many more continue to ask themselves if their money will or not be reimbursed. 

According to Ticketmaster’s policy, only the event’s organizers have the final word. About this, the Better Business Bureau Communications Vice President, Cinthya Lavin, said to Telemundo 51 that in these cases companies usually take between 48 and 72 hours to respond: “Sometimes the company doesn’t know how to deal with this and try to see how to do it.”

She recommends fans to contact their credit card company if they aren’t reached out by the organizers. “Sometimes they ask for further proof… but they understand the case when there is more than one person making claims and they usually give people a refund.”

The other question remaining in the air is whether or not Miami will be able to deliver successfully as one of the venues of the upcoming 2026 World Cup. About this, Miami-Dade Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez, who chairs the county’s Public Safety Committee, expressed concern. 

“Our recent failure to anticipate and manage a significant event has unfortunately put us on the international stage for the wrong reasons. Watching these events unfold, it became clear that we could have done more. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, we must learn from our past experiences and take comprehensive measures to ensure the safety and security of future events. Preparedness is key to preventing similar incidents,” Bermudez said via his Instagram profile.

“Immediate action and thorough discussion are needed now more than ever to safeguard our community and prepare effectively for what lies ahead.”

Hard Rock Stadium responds to Copa America incidents

In the meantime, Hard Rock Stadium sent a press release Tuesday in response to CONMEBOL accusations in the aftermath of Copa America final. The entity placed blame on them for failing to follow proven and suggested protocols for these kinds of events. 

“Hard Rock Stadium has safely hosted hundreds of world-class events in its 37-year history, including Super Bowls, major international soccer games, Formula 1, NFL and college football, major concert tours and other global events. At each of them, security was a joint effort between the organizer, local law enforcement agencies, and the venue,” reads part of the statement. 

“As we said previously, Hard Rock Stadium worked collaboratively with CONMEBOL, CONCACAF and local law enforcement agencies on security before and during the Copa America tournament. The parties met regularly, including daily security briefings throughout the month-long tournament. Hard Rock Stadium implemented, and in many cases exceeded, CONMEBOL safety recommendations throughout the tournament and final.”

In addition, they also said will evaluate the protocols and processes implemented in all aspects of stadium operations.

“We remain grateful to law enforcement and stadium staff who worked to prioritize the safety of all attendees despite the unprecedented scale of aggressive and illegal behavior displayed by a subset of unruly fans. We will have no further comment at this time.”