Settlement Reached in Copa América Class Action Lawsuit

A settlement was reached on Monday in the class action lawsuit filed by fans following the tumultuous 2024 Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia, which took place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Due to crowd disturbances occurring prior to kickoff, some ticket holders were unable to enter the venue, while others exited early due to safety concerns. These individuals are expected to constitute the majority of those filing claims.

Defendants in the lawsuit included CONMEBOL, Concacaf, Best Security, and South Florida Stadium LLC, the entity that owns and operates Hard Rock Stadium. Under the terms of the settlement, the defendants are collectively required to contribute over $14 million to a fund that affected fans can access, with the final payout contingent on the number of claims submitted.

Attorney Jeff Newsome of Varnell & Warwick PA, representing the plaintiffs and class counsel, stated, “This case was about standing up for the fans. Today, the Named Plaintiffs and the entire Class Counsel team are proud to provide real relief to the class members of the Copa América Class Action lawsuit.” He added, “We look forward to presenting the settlement to the Court.”

Concacaf declined to comment, and Hard Rock Stadium did not provide a statement to ESPN. Attempts to reach CONMEBOL and Best Security for comment were unsuccessful.

The final match was delayed by 82 minutes when fans without tickets breached security barriers to gain entry. In response, stadium personnel initiated a lockdown. However, as dangerous conditions arose, with some fans at risk of being crushed against the gates, the venue was reopened, allowing some individuals to enter regardless of ticket status. Once the stadium reached capacity, the gates were locked again, preventing some ticket holders from entering.

According to Miami-Dade Police, there were 27 arrests and 55 ejections, while Miami-Dade Fire Rescue reported responding to 120 incidents at the stadium, 116 of which were medical in nature.

Terms of the settlement, portions of which have been reviewed by ESPN, categorize plaintiffs into two groups. The first group comprises fans who were “denied entry” to the stadium due to the crowd disturbances, who may receive a maximum refund of $2,000 per person. Although some fans paid more than $2,000 for their tickets on the secondary market, the settlement aims to cover the majority of ticket costs. Fans who paid less than $2,000 can also submit claims for reimbursement of up to $300 in travel-related expenses, provided the total does not exceed $2,000.

The second group includes fans who were “denied full access and enjoyment of Hard Rock Stadium facilities or their specific seats.” This includes purchasing concessions or merchandise, which were unavailable due to overcrowding, with compensation capped at $100 per person.

Affected fans will need to file claims, supplying a time-stamped photo or proof of identification, proof of ticket purchase, and an affirmation that they were either denied entry or full access to the stadium. Additionally, they must confirm that they have not received a refund for any claimed out-of-pocket expenses.

Fans interested in participating in the settlement can find instructions at FinalMatchSettlement.com.

ESPN writer Lizzy Becherano contributed to this report.