Colombia's Jaminton Campaz receives death threats after missed penalty, echoing Andrés Escobar tragedy

Published Jul 11, 11:16 AM UTC

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Colombian footballer Jaminton Campaz (26) is living in fear after receiving death threats against himself and his family following his missed penalty in Colombia's World Cup elimination against Switzerland (3-4 on penalties). The threats are taken seriously due to a dark chapter in Colombian football history: in 1994, defender Andrés Escobar was murdered in Medellín just ten days after scoring an own goal against the USA, which led to Colombia's elimination. Escobar was shot outside a discotheque by men who had lost money on bets and shouted 'Own goal, Andrés, own goal' before killing him. Campaz's situation echoes this tragedy, as his mistake has reignited fears of violence linked to football betting and national disappointment. The article highlights the dangerous intersection of football passion, gambling, and violence in Colombia.

Source report

Bogotá – Football means a lot, but sometimes it tragically decides between life and death. Colombia's Jaminton Campaz (26) now fears exactly this. After his missed shot in the World Cup elimination against Switzerland (3-4 on penalties), he and his family received death threats.

What makes the situation even more dramatic: In Colombia's history, there was already a murder case after a mistake on the pitch. After the 1994 World Cup in the USA, defender Andrés Escobar paid for an own goal with his life.

Jaminton Campaz (26) misses the big chance to take the lead against Switzerland. Photo: Lee Smith/REUTERS

The 1994 Tragedy

It is the second matchday of the 1994 World Cup in the USA. Andrés Escobar defends the goal for the Colombians against the host USA. The Americans send in a cross. Escobar tries to clear it, but instead deflects the ball past his goalkeeper into his own net. Colombia loses the game 1-2 and is eliminated after the group stage.

"Mom, they will kill him"

An unintentional mistake — just like the missed big chance by Jaminton Campaz (26) at this World Cup, 32 years later. Escobar's nephew is said to have said during the game: "Mom, they will kill him." Only ten days later, this prophecy would come true.

The Colombian team returned to a disappointed country. The nation, plagued by drug wars at the time, had longed for a successful World Cup. With cult star Carlos Valderrama (64), great hopes had been raised. Many Colombians also bet money on victories of their national team.

The Murder

Escobar returned to Colombia. On July 2, 1994, he got into an argument with several men in the parking lot of a discotheque in Medellín. "Own goal, Andrés, own goal," they shouted, according to witnesses. Then they killed the 27-year-old defender — because of an own goal, and because they themselves had lost a lot of money on bets.

Due to this dark chapter in Colombian football history, it is only logical that Jaminton Campaz (26) takes the threats against himself and his family seriously.

Content shown outside its original language is machine translated; summaries may also be condensed.

Source

BILD - SportWestern

Original headline: Kolumbien-Star traut sich nicht nach Hause - Weil 1994 ein Eigentor-Schütze ermordet wurde

Original language: DE

Part of this Story

Colombian Player Jaminton Campaz Receives Death Threats After World Cup Miss

See the full Story: all sources and camp coverage

People and interests

Colombia Switzerland