Death threats against Colombia striker Campaz: World Cup professional does not want to return home for the time being

Campaz himself addressed the public with emotional words. "My Colombia, please let us never lose sight of respect," he wrote. "Difficult moments are also part of football," added the professional, who is under contract with the Argentine club Rosario Central. "We may have different opinions or feel frustration and sadness, but no passion justifies hatred or a life lived in fear."

Background: The tragedy surrounding Andrés Escobar

In Colombia, such threats against footballers are a particularly sensitive issue. During the 1994 World Cup, also held in the USA, defender Andrés Escobar scored an own goal in the 1:2 defeat against the host nation. After his return, he was shot dead. The case remains to this day one of the darkest moments in football history and shapes awareness of the dangers to which prominent players can be exposed in their home country.

World football governing body FIFA and international observers also reacted. "No athlete and no member of their closest circle should be subjected to intimidation simply because they represent their country in sport," a statement said. FIFA announced that it would closely monitor the security situation surrounding the Colombian delegation.

The background to the threats is apparently the sporting record of the Colombian team at the 2026 World Cup finals. According to reports from Medellín and other cities, there had been fierce reactions on social networks and, in isolated cases, within the player's family environment in connection with the matches. According to "One Football," Campaz had already been concerned about his safety before the tournament.

Reactions from the association and FIFA

The association stressed that players must not be held responsible for results that depend on many factors. The association's circles said that Campaz and his family would be cared for and protected during the ongoing World Cup finals in the USA and beyond. Rosario Central has also pledged support.

Sports psychologists and former Colombian national team players expressed dismay at the incidents. They pointed out that the pressure on the players is particularly great due to the memory of Andrés Escobar's death. They called for Colombian society to learn to deal with sporting defeats differently.

Investigations and open questions

The public prosecutor's office in Colombia said it has opened investigations on charges of threats and incitement of the masses. It is being examined whether the threats originated from the player's closest circle, from organized fan groups, or from anonymous profiles on social media. Campaz himself has so far not commented on possible backgrounds or suspects.

The 2026 World Cup finals in the USA, Canada, and Mexico still last several weeks. Campaz remains part of the Colombian squad, which will play its next group stage match on the upcoming matchday. Whether the striker will be able to return to his homeland after the tournament is, according to his circle, currently completely open.

International media interpreted the case as a symbol of the ongoing violence against athletes in parts of Latin America. The Colombian government announced that it would review the protection of prominent athletes overall and, if necessary, develop new protection concepts.

Overall, the case shows how strongly sporting emotions merge with personal hostility and threats in some societies. The Colombian Football Association wants to address the issue beyond the current World Cup at both the national and international level.