Argentina claimed its third straight main title with an extra-time victory over Colombia in Miami on Sunday, as a tearful Lionel Messi seemingly stated goodbye to worldwide soccer in a Copa América remaining delayed by crowd hassle.
Ahead Lautaro Martinez, on instead, hit the winner deep into further time to say a 1-0 victory for the world champions that ended Colombia’s 28-match unbeaten run and introduced Argentina a file sixteenth Copa América crown.
It got here after a hard-fought recreation that noticed Argentina captain Messi, 37, substituted within the second half with an obvious ankle harm in what’s more likely to be his final recreation at a serious worldwide match.
The soccer legend was visibly emotional as he watched the sport unfold from the bench whereas nursing his swollen proper ankle.
However the tears turned to cheers on the remaining whistle when a hobbling Messi embraced his teammates and coaches with an enormous smile earlier than lifting the trophy as jubilant Argentine followers serenaded the champions.
The scenes of celebration have been the fruits of a chaotic evening in Florida, the place kick-off on the sold-out 65,300-capacity Onerous Rock Stadium was delayed for greater than an hour after “hundreds of followers with out tickets tried to forcibly enter the stadium,” in keeping with a stadium spokesperson.
Pictures and video from outdoors the stadium confirmed huge overcrowding, with visibly distressed girls and youngsters amongst hundreds of followers caught outdoors the gates. A minimum of one photograph confirmed followers falling on prime of one another at an overturned crush barrier.
Video from CNN affiliate WSVN additionally confirmed some followers climbing the stadium partitions in an try to realize entry.
It’s unclear if any followers or safety personnel have been injured.
The gates have been later reopened “for a brief time period to all followers so as to stop stampedes and critical harm on the perimeter,” the stadium spokesperson stated in an replace.
“There was critical concern of followers being crushed in an try to enter. Legislation enforcement and safety personnel have been instantly deployed all through the stadium and surrounding space to maintain followers as secure as attainable in mild of this unprecedented state of affairs,” the replace stated.
The Miami-Dade Police Division said a number of incidents occurred as a “results of unruly conduct and followers making an attempt to entry the stadium.”
CNN has reached out to the police for extra info.
In a joint assertion, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and chief public security officer James Reyes stated they have been “outraged by the unprecedented occasions” and authorities would examine what led to the chaos.
“Let’s be clear: This case ought to by no means have taken place and can’t occur once more,” the assertion stated.
The scenes are additionally more likely to trigger alarm at soccer’s world governing physique FIFA, which has accredited the Onerous Rock Stadium as a number venue for the 2026 World Cup. The Copa América is organized by CONMEBOL, the South American soccer confederation.
The dysfunction in Miami on Sunday comes after Colombia’s semifinal win over Uruguay in Charlotte, North Carolina, was marred by unsavory scenes.
Tempers flared Wednesday after a testy match, when gamers from each squads clashed on the sector earlier than reside tv photos confirmed Uruguayan gamers coming into the stands and struggling with followers.
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