Settlement Reached in Copa América Class Action Lawsuit

On Monday, a settlement was finalized regarding the class action lawsuit filed by fans after 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 before the match commenced, many ticket-holding fans were unable to enter the venue, while others chose to leave early for safety reasons. It is anticipated that these individuals will constitute the majority of claimants.

The lawsuit named CONMEBOL, Concacaf, Best Security, and South Florida Stadium LLC, the entity managing Hard Rock Stadium, as defendants. As part of the settlement, these defendants will collectively contribute more than $14 million to a fund accessible to fans affected by the crowd issues during the final. The final disbursement will depend on the number of claims submitted.

Attorney Jeff Newsome of Varnell & Warwick PA, representing the plaintiffs and class counsel, remarked, “This case was about standing up for the fans. Today, the Named Plaintiffs and the entire Class Counsel team are proud to deliver real relief to the class members of the Copa América Class Action lawsuit.” He further expressed eagerness to present the settlement to the court.

Concacaf declined to provide comments, and Hard Rock Stadium did not respond to ESPN’s inquiries. Similarly, no response was received from CONMEBOL, and attempts to reach Best Security were unsuccessful.

The final match faced an 82-minute delay due to ticketless fans breaching security barriers to gain entry. Stadium officials attempted to regain control by locking down the venue, but when conditions became dangerous, leading to a risk of crushing outside the gates, the stadium reopened, permitting entry to some fans regardless of ticket possession. Once the venue reached capacity, the gates were sealed again, preventing ticketed fans from entering.

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

Terms of the settlement, partially shared with ESPN, categorize plaintiffs into two groups. The first group consists of fans who were “denied entry” due to the crowd incidents, eligible for refunds up to $2,000 per person. Although some fans paid over $2,000 for tickets on the secondary market, this settlement aims to cover the majority of ticket costs for affected fans. Additionally, those who spent less than $2,000 may claim up to $300 for travel-related expenses, provided the total does not exceed $2,000.

The second group includes fans who were “denied full access and enjoyment” of stadium facilities, including concessions and merchandise, which were inaccessible due to overcrowding. Compensation for this group will be capped at $100 per person.

Impacted fans must file claims and provide a time-stamped photograph or proof of identity, evidence of ticket purchase, and an affirmation that they were either denied entry or full access to the stadium facilities. They must also confirm that they have not received any refunds for the claimed out-of-pocket expenses.

Details for affected fans wishing to participate in the settlement can be found at FinalMatchSettlement.com.

This report was also contributed to by ESPN writer Lizzy Becherano.