In Colombia, five people were killed in fights after the national football team lost 1-0 to Argentina in the final of the Copa América. “In most cases, stabbing weapons were involved,” the news program “Noticias Caracol” quoted Nicolás Rojas, the head of the national police, as saying.
Four people were killed in the capital Bogotá and one in Ibagué, a city about 200 kilometers southwest of Bogotá. 25 people were arrested nationwide in connection with fights.
World champions Argentina once again won the Copa America title. The team led by superstar Lionel Messi won the final in Miami against Colombia 1-0 after extra time.
The final was accompanied by chaotic conditions. The match could not kick off until almost 90 minutes later because fans without tickets tried to get into the Hard Rock Stadium. The sometimes frightening images immediately triggered security concerns with a view to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Water cannon against fans in Buenos Aires
After the final whistle, thousands of fans in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires celebrated their national team’s victory at the obelisk in the center. Since some of them did not want to open the important Avenida 9 de Julio to rush hour traffic even in the early hours of the morning, the police used water cannon against them, as could be seen on television.
Before the match, a tragic accident occurred at the same venue when a football fan climbed onto an advertising board and fell from a height of six metres. The 29-year-old died, as the newspaper “La Nación” reported.
