Miami Gardens, Florida – Thousands of ticketless fans stormed the stadium gates on Sunday, significantly delaying the start of the highly anticipated Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia. Guards had to step in as a result of the unique event, which caused scenes of bewilderment and terror outside the famous Maracanã Stadium.

Authorities found it difficult to control the swarming crowd, so the match, which was originally set to begin at 9:00 PM local time, was postponed by more than an hour. A chaotic scene quickly developed when fans broke through security barriers and tried to enter the stadium in an attempt to watch the match between Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Colombia.

Fans were climbing over fences and fighting with security personnel, and the chaos was captured on camera and in photos. As the incident developed, reports of injuries surfaced, raising fears for the participants’ safety during the tumultuous events.

A statement was issued by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) apologizing for the delay and promising supporters that everyone involved would be safe. They vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the situation and denounced the behaviour of those in charge of the disturbance.

The circumstances outside prompted players from both sides to wait in the dressing rooms inside the stadium. Argentina and Colombia were competing for their first Copa América titles in almost three decades, and the highly-anticipated final was already tense due to the delay.

When the situation was under control, the game eventually began in a quiet environment with a much smaller attendance inside the stadium. Given that both sides had trouble getting going early on, the delayed start affected the game’s tempo and intensity.

The Copa América final’s planning and security measures have come under heavy fire as a result of the tragedy. It has been questioned if the stadium’s infrastructure can support such a sizable and fervent crowd and if crowd control measures are effective.

Following violent and hooliganism episodes that tarnished previous championships, CONMEBOL has come under increased criticism in recent years about issues about fan safety and security. Calls for more responsibility and stronger laws to stop such incidents in the future are probably going to get louder in the wake of the pandemonium at the Copa América final.

The focus now turns to the football itself as the evening’s events come to a close. Both Colombia and Argentina will be keen to move past the interruptions and provide an exciting show for the millions of spectators worldwide as well as the surviving supporters within the stadium.

The events leading up to the game will overshadow the result, but the takeaways from the mayhem outside the stadium will be just as important in defining this Copa América final’s legacy as the conclusion on the field.