Several lawsuits have been filed in connection with the chaos that erupted at the Copa America soccer tournament final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami last weekend. Fans without tickets forced their way into the stadium, leading to melees at the admission gates. At least four lawsuits have been filed against the stadium and CONMEBOL, South American soccer’s governing organization, over the incidents.
One injured woman, represented by an attorney, cited serious injuries sustained during the chaos. The attorney criticized stadium and CONMEBOL officials for allegedly prioritizing profits over safety, claiming that more police officers and security guards should have been hired.
The stadium officials have stated that they will refund unused tickets purchased directly from organizers. They mentioned that they had hired double the security for the final compared to Miami Dolphins games and had exceeded CONMEBOL's recommendations. The stadium is set to host several games during the 2026 World Cup.
CONMEBOL, based in Paraguay, did not provide specific comments on the lawsuits but previously placed blame on stadium officials for not implementing their recommendations. The chaos resulted in injuries to several ticket holders, including one woman who suffered soft tissue damage to her knee and shoulder, as well as a chest injury.
Police arrested 27 individuals and ejected 55 in connection with the incidents. The attorney representing the injured woman mentioned that more lawsuits are expected to be filed, with reports of individuals having teeth knocked out and suffering broken arms.
Another attorney filed lawsuits on behalf of fans who had tickets but were not admitted due to the stadium being filled past capacity by unticketed fans who forced their way inside. These fans, who had traveled from various locations, experienced fear and emotional distress during the stampede and melee.
The attorney emphasized that the situation was terrifying, especially for families and individuals who had invested significant resources to attend the event. The lawsuits highlight the need for a better security plan to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
