Hundreds of Argentinians celebrated the return of their national team on Monday evening in Buenos Aires after they clinched the Copa America 2024 title by defeating Colombia 1-0 after extra time on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The "Albiceleste" players returned to Argentina and greeted fans from a bus in front of the headquarters of the Football Association in Ezeiza, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, although the majority of the team, including captain Lionel Messi, remained in the United States.
One fan told reporters on the ground, "It was a great match; the players gave everything they had. They are amazing." Among the players returning to the country was star Ángel Di María, who played his last international match, eliciting joy among the celebrants. One fan pleaded with Di María on the "TyC Sports" channel, saying, "Please stay, if you can, if you want, if you wish."
Vendors displayed shirts, hats, flags, and posters in the team colors, as well as other posters bearing Di María's name. Thousands of people celebrated in the early hours of Monday around the iconic Obelisk monument, despite the low temperatures. The party abruptly ended after more than four hours when police deployed fire trucks and officers to clear the streets, causing a stampede among the crowd.
Some celebrants threw stones at the police, but many dispersed quickly in front of the riot-equipped security forces, while authorities reported no arrests or injuries. The final match between the Argentinian and Colombian teams was delayed by 82 minutes due to chaos when fans breached the stadium gates, leading some to fall and others attempted to sneak in through large air conditioning ducts.
On Monday, US police arrested Colombian Football Association President Ramón Jesurún in Miami on charges of "assaulting an officer/employee" the night before at Hard Rock Stadium. The Colombian newspaper "El Tiempo" reported that Jesurún, 71, was not allowed into the stadium with his son and some family members after the awards ceremony. Jesurún's son clashed with a security guard who prevented them from entering. The newspaper explained that Jesurún, the vice president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), was also involved in the altercation before police intervened.
Miami police stated in a report that 27 people were arrested and 55 others were ejected from the stadium during the match. The South American Football Confederation issued a statement indicating that it had suggested security measures that were not implemented. The confederation expressed regret that "the violent acts of malicious individuals marred a final match that was meant to be a grand celebration of sport."
