Miami is implementing a massive police presence at the Club World Cup after past incidents
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Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida will welcome massive police presence for the rest of the Club World Cup this monththe city appears to be trying to avoid repeating the nearly-occurring incidents that have led to the arrests of 26 people last year.
2024 American Cup In the final, fans were horrified and bloody as a swarm of ticketless fans sprinted through Gates for a match between Argentina and Colombia, and security struggled to contain the crash as they tried to break in.
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Fans will attempt to enter the stadium amidst the obstacles before the final match between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium on July 14, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
In the video, some fans are about to go through the vents to get an entry. Police had to lift patients over the barrier to avoid crushing children, but officers elsewhere tackled the ground with ticketless fans who could be caught in solitary attempts to keep the storage at bay.
But things will be different this summer.
“We have put in place extensive measures to protect our fans, players and staff,” Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Koldero Statz said before the tournament. “The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is leading the entire security effort for this global event.”
Changes made over the past year will require fans of this tournament to pass through three separate checkpoints surrounding the entire campus before approaching the stadium. Steel fencing is installed around the perimeter.
The first is ticket checks at temporary gates that take up most of the parking lot where tailgate parties are likely to take place normally. Another airport style screening is then conducted under the tent where the bag is checked by an x-ray panel. The flag must also be approved.
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Police officers patrol on Sunday, July 14th, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Florida, as fans wait for the stadium between Argentina and Colombia. (AP Photo/Lynn Sweet)
Fans were able to get much closer to the stadium in front of the Copa America checkpoint.
“When I was in the finals, the guards opened the gates and started going through people,” Puerto Rico Boca Junior fan Edison Negron told The Associated Press when he described the scene when fans hit a barrier last year.
Miami-Dade County said a full review was conducted at the time, with the scene “cannot happen again.”
“There are important law enforcement and security footprints within and around the stadium to ensure public safety for all events,” Det. Argemis Colome told the Associated Press, adding that social media is being monitored before a match was made.
Preparations include special training for rapid deployment forces as part of a multi-agency response to potential crowd troubles.
“As things go south, we prepare for the uncertainty of the citizens and unruly fans,” the sheriff’s office said in a social media post.
So far, the big presence of police has been revealed in both games played at Hard Rock. Saturday’s tournament opener saw a crowd of over 60,000 people watched Intermiami vs Al Aaaaa and Monday’s Boca Junior and Benfica with nearly 56,000 people.
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On Sunday, July 14th, 2024, we will be chatting with fans outside the stadium before the final Copa America soccer match between Argentina and Colombia. (AP Photo/Lynn Sweet)
The patrol vehicles are stationed along the interstate outside the stadium, with officers on the patrol wearing facial shields and protective clothing.
FIFA said it was working closely with stadium officials, state and federal agencies to “ensure a strong security presence.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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