What should have been a celebratory soccer event at the Copa America was marred by chaos and injuries. Instead of the winning team hoisting the trophy, the lasting images were of people left hurt and crying.
South America's International Competition
The CONMEBOL Copa América, more commonly referred to as simply Copa America, is a popular quadrennial soccer competition among South American national teams. This year, Miami hosted the final at the Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins football team. U.S. interest in soccer is gaining, particularly in Miami, where Argentinian native and international superstar Lionel Messi now plays. Miami is also set to host several World Cup games in 2026.
What Happened
This year's Copa America featured two heavyweight national teams, Colombia and Argentina. The Colombian and Argentine teams began the game with a delay of more than eighty minutes thanks to disturbances caused by fans without tickets entering the stadium. Fans used stealth, jumping over bars or even getting into the ventilation, and by force, with a wave of humans breaking down gates.
The chaos was such that in order for the stampede of people to “flow” and free the trapped people, the doors were opened. This allowed people to enter without a ticket. The doors were closed after the massive entry, and many people with tickets were left outside.
Who Is Responsible?
The devastation could have been much worse. Fortunately, no one was killed. However, over 100 people were injured and dozens were arrested. Victims of violence and stampeding are left wondering what happens next. Unfortunately, the answer to who is responsible for injuries is not as simple as it may first seem.
Let's start with the obvious. Entering a paid event without a ticket is illegal. The crime is called trespassing. People who sneaked in were subject to arrest and removal from the site, which happened in several cases.
But what about the organizers? CONMEBOL, the South American Football Confederation, organizes the event in conjunction with CONCACAF (North, Central, and Caribbean Football Confederation). The big point here is that CONMEBOL has a contract with the stadium where the final was hosted. They have already pointed to Hard Rock Stadium as responsible for any lawsuit.
On the official Copa América website, CONMEBOL wrote that it was “subject to the decisions made by the Hard Rock Stadium authorities, in accordance with contractual responsibilities, established for security operation. In addition to the provisions determined in said contract, CONMEBOL recommended to said authorities the procedures tested in events of this magnitude, which were NOT taken into account."
Another possible culprit is local and state authorities, including Miami-Dade County. Many attendees at the event claim to have suffered as a result of beatings and tear gas. If a person demonstrates an excessive use of force by police, not from the private security guards, the responsibility could lie with the municipality or county which employs those law enforcement officers.
Miami Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Chief Public Safety Officer James Reyes stated that the county assigned more than 550 police officers to the state.
Regarding the incidents, the Miami-Dade administration stated that it is working with stadium authorities to ensure a review of the night's events to evaluate the entire chain of events.
What Are the Potential Crimes and Penalties?
Under Florida law, trespassing is either a misdemeanor or felony and can lead to fines, prison, probation, and a criminal record. Trespassing is a misdemeanor if no weapon was involved, and a felony if there was.
There were fewer arrests than could have occurred. This is because at one point the doors were opened directly to prevent people from getting trampled and suffocated in the mass of people.
What About the Organizers?
The owners of an establishment are responsible for damages that occur therein. This is called premises liability. If an injured attendee can show that either Hard Rock Stadium or CONMEBOL was negligent in hosting the event, they may be able to recover damages for injuries. However, the case gets a bit more complicated if the injured person was trespassing.
What About the Police?
Any police or law enforcement officer who used excessive force could also theoretically be liable for resulting injuries. However, the law allows a police officer to use force if the situation warrants it. Any case alleging excessive force would need to show the police officer used more force than necessary, which could be challenging to prove in the chaos of the event. You should consult with a civil rights lawyer if this is the case.
What About Fans?
In the case of fans who lost their seats, either because someone took them away from them or because they could never enter the stadium, they must claim a refund for the ticket.
The official Copa América website issued a statement placing the responsibility to Hard Rock Stadium, but did not specify anything about refunding ticket money. Fans who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster or a similar service could request a refund through their online account or contact the ticket operators. The problem is that Ticketmaster only provides refunds when the organizer approves. It may be difficult to get a refund until CONMEBOL and Hard Rock Stadium sort out who is going to accept the losses.
Hard Rock Stadium issued a statement on X indicating that “We understand that there are disappointed ticket holders who were unable to enter the stadium after the perimeter was closed, and we will work collaboratively with CONMEBOL to address those individual concerns.”
In the case of those fans who suffered injuries, they would have the possibility of filing a civil lawsuit. This could be directed to the stadium, CONMEBOL, or local government, depending on the case. Victims could also attempt to sue anyone who assaulted them, of course, but it would be difficult to find the person who assaulted you, and in any case they may not have the resources to make suing them worthwhile.
It is also possible the events of the Copa América final will lead to a class action lawsuit.
A Warning for the World Cup?
What happened on Sunday is undoubtedly a warning sign. In two years, the U.S. will once again host an even bigger soccer event: the World Cup. Clearly, better organization and protection will be needed.
