Settlement Reached in Copa América Class Action Lawsuit

omidbasir- On Monday, a settlement was reached in the class action lawsuit filed by fans following the tumultuous 2024 Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Due to crowd disturbances before the kickoff, many ticket holders were unable to enter the stadium, while others chose to leave early for safety reasons. These affected fans are expected to make up the majority of those filing claims.

The defendants in this lawsuit included CONMEBOL, Concacaf, Best Security, and South Florida Stadium LLC, which owns and operates Hard Rock Stadium. As part of the settlement agreement, these entities will together contribute more than $14 million to a fund that will be available to fans impacted by the disturbances during the final. The total payout will be contingent 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 stated, “We look forward to presenting the settlement to the Court.”

Concacaf declined to comment, and Hard Rock Stadium, as well as CONMEBOL, did not respond to requests for comments regarding the settlement. Attempts to reach Best Security for a statement were also unsuccessful.

The final match was delayed by 82 minutes when fans without tickets breached security barriers in an attempt to enter the stadium. In response, stadium personnel locked down the venue to regain control. However, as unsafe conditions arose, with fans at risk of being crushed against the gates, the stadium was reopened, allowing some individuals—regardless of ticket ownership—to enter. Once capacity was reached, the gates were closed again, preventing ticketed fans 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 venue, 116 of which were medical in nature.

The settlement terms, some of which have been reviewed by ESPN, categorize plaintiffs into two groups. The first category includes fans who were “denied entry” due to crowd issues, eligible for a maximum refund of $2,000 per person. Although some fans paid more than this amount on the secondary market, the settlement aims to address the majority of fans’ ticket costs. Fans who paid less than $2,000 may also claim up to $300 in travel-related expenses, as long as the total does not exceed $2,000.

The second category pertains to fans who experienced a “denial of full access and enjoyment” of Hard Rock Stadium’s facilities or specific seats they purchased. This includes the inability to purchase concessions or merchandise due to overcrowding, with claims capped at $100 per person.

Affected fans must file claims, providing a time-stamped photo or proof of identification, evidence of ticket purchase, and confirmation that they were either denied entry or full access to the stadium. They must also affirm that they have not previously received a refund for any claimed out-of-pocket expenses.

Fans wishing to participate in the settlement can find filing instructions at FinalMatchSettlement.com.

This report includes contributions from ESPN writer Lizzy Becherano.