DistantNews
Support us
🇶🇦 Qatar /Sports

Colombia's Jaminton Campaz receives death threats after World Cup exit

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Colombian footballer Jaminton Campaz received death threats after missing a crucial scoring opportunity during a World Cup match against Switzerland.
  • The Colombian Football Federation condemned the threats, emphasizing that no athlete should face intimidation for representing their country.
  • Campaz himself appealed for respect, stating that while football involves difficult moments, passion should not justify hatred or fear, referencing the tragic murder of Andres Escobar after the 1994 World Cup.

Jaminton Campaz, a player for Colombian club Rosario Central, has been subjected to death threats following his team's elimination from the World Cup. The Colombian Football Federation (FCF) issued a strong condemnation of the intimidation, stating that athletes and their families should never face such threats for representing their nation.

No athlete, nor any member of their inner circle, should be subjected to intimidation for representing their country in a sporting arena.

— Colombian Football FederationThe FCF condemned the threats against Campaz.

The incident occurred after Colombia's penalty shootout loss to Switzerland in the round of 16. During extra time, Campaz missed a significant scoring chance, sending his shot wide. This miss, coupled with the team's subsequent exit, led to a wave of online harassment.

Campaz took to Instagram to share his distress, posting a photo of himself covering his face and writing, "Football is also made up of difficult moments. My Colombia, please let us never lose sight of respect. We may think differently or feel frustration and sadness, but no passion justifies hatred or living in fear." He urged for a return to respect and unity.

Football is also made up of difficult moments. My Colombia, please let us never lose sight of respect. We may think differently or feel frustration and sadness, but no passion justifies hatred or living in fear.

— Jaminton CampazCampaz appealed for respect on Instagram following the threats.

In response to the threats, the FCF has requested the attorney general's office to expedite an investigation to identify the perpetrators. The federation stressed that football should be a space for unity, respect, and hope, not hatred or violence, and called on fans to refrain from translating sporting disappointments into real-world aggression. The federation's statement also evoked the dark history of Colombian football, specifically the 1994 World Cup, when defender Andres Escobar was murdered after scoring an own-goal.

Football must be a space for unity, respect, and hope, never a setting for hatred, intimidation or violence.

— Colombian Football FederationThe FCF called for a respectful environment in sports.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog