Colombia football head arrested on battery charge

Image source, Miami-Dade police department

Image caption, Ram贸n Jesur煤n's mugshot issued by the Miami-Dade police department
  • Author, Jaroslav Lukiv
  • Role, 大象传媒 News
  • Reporting from London

The head of the Colombian Football Federation, Ram贸n Jesur煤n, and his son have been arrested, following a brawl at Sunday's Copa Am茅rica final in Miami.

Mr Jesur煤n, 71, and Ram贸n Jamil Jesur煤n, 43, were held on charges of battery involving an official or an employee, said the Miami-Dade Police Department.

The charges relate to the brawl at the stadium after Colombia lost to Argentina 0-1 in extra time.

Neither Mr Jesur煤n nor his son have publicly commented on the issue.

In a statement sent to the 大象传媒, the Miami-Dade Police Department said the incident had happened just after the football match ended at the Hard Rock Stadium in the south-eastern US state.

Mr Jesur煤n and his son were "walking towards the entrance of the field", it said, but they became "irate and began shouting" at one of the security officers, who was instructed by his management to temporarily delay people from going further.

The police said the officer had "placed an open palm" on the chest of Mr Jesur煤n's son to guide him back.

Mr Jesur煤n then pushed the officer, they said, while his son grabbed the officer's neck and pulled him to the ground, punching him and kicking him in the head.

Mr Jesur煤n's son also grabbed and pushed a female official who tried to assist, the police said.

It added that the two men had also punched a security manager.

Mr Jesur煤n, his son and other family members are believed to have been trying to go on the pitch to take part in the awards ceremony.

Image source, Miami-Dade police department

Image caption, Ram贸n Jamil Jesur煤n's mugshot issued by the Miami-Dade police department

On Tuesday the Colombian Football Federation released a statement saying the incident began when stadium security "prevented timely and direct access to the field to most members of the Colombian delegation".

"As the governing body of Colombian football, we regret this event and offer our apologies to the organizers of the tournament, the host country and the people who were affected," the statement read.

"Ramon Jesurun, driven by his paternal instinct rushed to complain about what happened but ended up overwhelmed by the situation, as he was in the corridor with his wife, sons, daughters and young grandchildren,"

"For his part, president Jesurun deeply regrets these events, which should never have happened."

The start of the final of the Americas' most prestigious football tournament was delayed by 80 minutes after ticketless fans forced their way into Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.

Several arrests were made after clashes with police and security personnel, while several supporters needed treatment from paramedics.

Video caption, Copa America: Argentina and Colombia in crowd trouble