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Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister was forced to leave the Argentina dressing room to help his family gain access to the Copa America final amid “inhumane” scenes outside of the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Kick-off against Colombia was delayed by 80 minutes amid reports of ticketless fans trying to gain entry for the showpiece fixture.

Mac Allister’s mother, Silvina, said her 25-year-old son was concerned for his family, who were caught up in the chaos, and was in constant communication with them until he knew they were safe. "Alexis had to leave the locker room to help us get in because he was worried," Silvina said.

"I thought couldn't continue. I thought the game wouldn't be played because if the players thought they would resolve this, impossible that it would be played. It was inhumane. We are okay.

"We were in communication with Alexis the whole time, but he said he would stay outside until we would come in. He waited for us until we came in. We hugged him once inside, left him to be calm and told him to win."

Mac Allister completed the full goalless 90 minutes of the final before being taken off seven minutes into extra time, prior to Lautaro Martinez’s 112th-minute winner in the 1-0 triumph. Liverpool winger Luis Diaz, who had begun the game for Colombia, had been hooked two minutes priorly.

The shambolic scenes outside of the stadium follow last week’s semi-final violence when some Uruguay players, including Darwin Nunez, were seen jumping into the crowd to get into altercations with spectators wearing Colombia shirts. It is claimed some had been threatening towards family members.

CONMEBOL released a statement condemning the scenes at the Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina. Questions are being raised over the USA’s ability to control crowd trouble ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which it is co-hosting alongside Canada and Mexico.

There has also been criticism levelled at the decision to allow a prolonged half-time of 25 minutes due to a performance from Colombian pop star Shakira. "I can't understand it,” said Colombia boss Nestor Lorenzo.

Meanwhile, a tearful Lionel Messi was forced off with an injury midway through the second half, with cameras capturing a large bulge on his right ankle while looking crestfallen on the bench. However, he and Mac Allister would lift the trophy at the end of the night.