Colombian soccer official Ramón Jesurún has had felony battery charges stemming from a Copa América incident dropped by prosecutors. His attorney, Michael Band, stated that the decision followed a thorough evaluation of the evidence. However, charges against Jesurún’s son, Ramon Jesurún Jr., remain, with a trial set for November.
“I appreciate the state attorney’s review of this matter,” Band noted, representing both Jesurún and his son. He expressed hope for a resolution regarding the younger Jesurún’s case as well.
Both Jesurún and his son faced three counts of felony battery on an official after allegedly clashing with stadium security following Argentina’s victory over Colombia in the Copa final on July 14.
According to arrest records, the duo attempted to access the field through a media tunnel after the match. They encountered stadium security, who were instructed to prevent guests from entering while players were moving on and off the field.
The situation escalated from a verbal dispute to physical confrontation when a guard placed an “open palm” on Jesurún Jr.’s chest to redirect him. The younger Jesurún allegedly grabbed the guard “around his neck” and pulled him down, throwing “two punches” that struck the guard, as detailed in the arrest report.
Video footage did not indicate that the elder Jesurún made any physical contact with security personnel during the incident, as noted by Miami-Dade assistant state attorney Charles Heinemann in a close-out memo.
Heinemann also mentioned that one of the involved security guards, who claimed Jesurún had assaulted him, failed to attend pre-file conferences and has not responded to attempts to contact him.
Without the guard’s “sworn statement and clarification of his role in the incident,” the state cannot proceed with charges, Heinemann explained.
The chaos that unfolded before the Copa América final saw numerous fans, some without tickets, force their way into Hard Rock Stadium, jumping over security barriers and bypassing police and stadium staff.
Jesurún has served as president of the Colombian soccer federation since 2015 and holds a vice-presidential position within CONMEBOL, the governing body for South American soccer that organizes the Copa América tournament.
The venue in Miami Gardens, Florida, home to the NFL’s Dolphins, is scheduled to host seven World Cup matches in 2026, including a quarterfinal and a third-place match.
