Who are Beni Marmol and Pato Perrotta? The YouTubers arrested during Colombia vs Portugal in Miami
The FIFA World Cup is progressing at a breakneck pace, and following Canada’s 1-0 victory over South Africa in the first Round of 32 match, we have now seen 73 of the 104 total matches played leading up to the July 19 final in New York. As the stakes rise, the frenzy to secure seats has reached unprecedented levels.
This desperation, however, led to a major incident involving two YouTubers who now face up to five years in prison after allegedly breaching multiple security layers at the Colombia vs. Portugal match in Miami.
Cristiano Ronaldo makes Portugal teammate look like a little kid during practice
Under current regulations, entering a ticketed event of over 5,000 people without authorization is classified as a third-degree felony, a charge that could have severe long-term consequences for the influencers involved.
Inside the Hard Rock Stadium Security Breach
While the average fan shelled out over $1,000, with some secondary market prices on StubHub peaking at $22,084, to watch 41-year-old legend Cristiano Ronaldo potentially play his final international matches, Argentine content creators Beni Marmol (20) and Pato Perrotta (26) attempted to bypass the system entirely.
During the final Group K match, which saw a sold-out crowd of 64,478 inside the Hard Rock Stadium, the pair were among 16 people apprehended by authorities. According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s office, Marmol and Perrotta “bypassed three layers of security” by using expired credentials.
Upon being confronted, Marmol claimed he was an influencer attempting to livestream the match, while Perrotta argued he had been hired by a media company, despite his credentials being valid only for a previous event.
The two influencers, Marmol boasting over 270,000 subscribers and Perrotta over 500,000, are now facing felony charges for illegally interfering with a sporting event. Their manager, Walter Costabel, has stated that the influencers are not facing deportation but are currently prohibited from nearing any World Cup venues.
With over five million total ticket requests for this tournament, the FIFA security apparatus is expected to tighten significantly moving forward.
It remains a costly lesson in judgment; by trying to cheat their way into a game that saw the lowest get-in prices hovering around $3,500, these content creators have jeopardized their careers and freedom in a high-profile security breach that has shocked the sporting world.