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Colombian Football Federation President and Son Arrested

Colombian Football Federation President and Son Arrested

The 71-year-old president of the Colombian Football Federation and his son have been arrested in Miami on charges of fighting with security guards after the Copa America final, which saw chaotic scenes around the stadium, Miami-Dade police confirmed on Monday.

Sunday’s final, which Colombia lost to Argentina, kicked off more than an hour late after police imposed a lockdown that trapped hundreds of fans outside Hard Rock Stadium in Florida. Videos on social media showed security battling fans trying to breach the gates.

According to Miami police arrest reports, both Ramon Jeserun, the league president, and his 43-year-old son Ramon Jamil were arrested after an altercation at the stadium shortly after midnight. Police are charging both men with assault.

According to police files, Jeserun and his son were charged after they fought with security guards in a tunnel where the media gathered after the match.

This included a uniformed security guard who was tasked with holding back the crowd. According to police, Jeserun’s son grabbed the guard by the neck and pulled him to the ground, where he punched him and kicked him in the head.

The Colombian Football Federation declined to comment.

More than two dozen fans were arrested and more than 50 people were evicted from the stadium during Sunday’s Copa America final, with more than 800 police officers on hand.

It was the second time that the US hosted the main national soccer tournament in the Americas, which was founded more than a century ago.

In a statement Monday, Hard Rock Stadium said it had prepared for the game by increasing the number of police officers and security personnel, with “more than double the number of personnel than at a typical full-capacity stadium event.”

After the gates were closed and reopened, “fans continued to engage in illegal behavior, fighting police officers, tearing down walls and barricades, and vandalizing the stadium, causing significant property damage.”

The stadium has a capacity of over 65,000 people and is expected to host seven matches during the 2026 World Cup.