Fresh protests are planned in Miami for Saturday’s opening day of the FIFA Club World Cup – with local police warning those who use violence will be ‘killed graveyard dead’.
Inter Miami will take on Egyptian side Al Ahly at the city’s Hard Rock Stadium, with the US gripped by turmoil amid a series of controversial immigration raids.
Protests have already turned ugly in Los Angeles with rubber bullets and tear gas fired at protestors and cars set on fire.
And a series of ‘No Kings’ marches against President Donald Trump’s perceived hardline stance are due to take place across Florida as FIFA’s big show kicks off.
In a stark press conference, officials have ominously warned of a zero tolerance policy towards those who break the law, with hundreds expected to attend.
‘If you throw a brick, a firebomb or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains at. Because we will kill you graveyard dead,’ Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami begin the Club World Cup in Flordia on Saturday evening
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey gave an ominous warning to potential protestors
Meanwhile, the state’s Governor, Republican Ron DeSantis, issued a chilling warning for those in the city to be on alert.
‘If you’re driving on one of those streets, and a mob comes and surrounds your vehicle and threatens you, you have a right to flee for your safety,’ DeSantis warned.
‘And so if you drive off and you hit one of these people that’s their fault for impinging on you — you don’t have to sit there and just be a sitting duck and let the mob grab you out of your car and drag you through the streets.’
State Attorney General James Uthmeier struck a similar tone.
‘We are not California,’ he said. ‘We do not allow rioting in the state of Florida.’
Protests are due in Downtown Miami and Miami Beach at 11am, local time, and Fort Lauderdale at 10am.
The above will no doubt add to an already-considerable headache for FIFA ahead of the debut of its new-look, expanded tournament.
Ticket sales have been sluggish, while concerns have been raised that border patrol officers will use matches as an opportunity to identify illegal immigrants.
People have been protesting President Trump and his hardline stance on immigration
A social media message posted by Customs and Border Patrol triggered unease.
‘Let the games begin!’ it read. ‘The first FIFA Club World Cup games start on June 14th in Miami… CBP will be suited and booted and ready to provide security for the first round of games.’
That post has since been deleted. CBP say they will be at venues to ensure matches pass off peacefully.
When directly asked by Mail Sport if officials would be checking legal status papers no response was forthcoming.
A CBP spokesperson said: ‘U.S. Customs and Border Protection is committed to working with our local and federal partners to ensure the FIFA Club World Cup is safe for everyone involved, as we do with every major sporting event, including the Super Bowl. Our mission remains unchanged.’
FIFA have been contacted for comment.
