Argentine YouTubers Arrested After Allegedly Using Fake Media Passes to Sneak Into FIFA World Cup Match in South Florida
Two popular Argentine YouTubers were arrested in South Florida after authorities say they used invalid media credentials in an attempt to gain unauthorized access to a FIFA World Cup match at Hard Rock Stadium. Lautaro “Beni” Mármol, 20, and Patricio “Pato” Perrotta, 26, were taken into custody on June 27 during the highly anticipated group stage match between Colombia and Portugal. According to the Miami-Dade Police Department, the pair managed to bypass three separate layers of stadium security before they were stopped by deputies.
Expired Media Credentials Triggered Arrest
Investigators say Mármol and Perrotta presented what appeared to be press credentials in an effort to enter restricted areas of the stadium. However, security personnel determined the passes were expired media credentials from an unrelated sporting event and were not valid for the FIFA World Cup. Authorities allege the two content creators worked together to gain unauthorized entry before being intercepted inside the security perimeter.
Streamers Gave Different Explanations
According to arrest affidavits, Mármol told deputies he is a media influencer and admitted he intended to sneak into the stadium to livestream the match for his online audience. Perrotta, meanwhile, reportedly told officers he believed he had been hired by a media company to cover the event. He acknowledged that the credentials he was carrying were from a previous event but suggested he believed they would still allow him access. Together, the two creators have built a substantial online following, with more than 700,000 combined YouTube subscribers.
Facing Third Degree Felony Charges
Both men were booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and charged with interference with a sporting or entertainment event. Prosecutors allege the pair acted in coordination, elevating the offense to a third-degree felony under Florida law. If convicted, each could face up to five years in prison and fines of up to $5,000. The charges reflect Florida’s heightened security posture at major sporting events following the widespread gate crashing incidents that disrupted the 2024 Copa América final at the same stadium, prompting stricter enforcement and expanded security measures for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Released on Bond, Barred From World Cup Stadiums
A Miami-Dade judge found probable cause and set bond at $2,500 for each defendant. According to the pair’s manager, Walter Costabel, and fellow Argentine streamer Gerónimo Benavides, the bonds have already been posted, allowing both men to be released from custody. Although they are not currently facing deportation proceedings, court conditions prohibit them from returning to or approaching any stadium hosting FIFA World Cup matches while their criminal cases remain pending.
The case underscores the aggressive security measures in place at World Cup venues across the United States, where law enforcement agencies have warned that unauthorized entry attempts, counterfeit credentials, and security breaches will be prosecuted under enhanced stadium security laws.
