Colombia Footballers receive death threats following a controversial match

Photo via CNN

Following a contentious match in Colombia on Saturday, a Colombian football player reported that he and his teammates had received death threats.

The match in issue, between Llaneros Football Club and Union Magdalena SA, saw Llaneros surrender two goals in extra time, sparking a match-fixing investigation after the club was accused of tossing the match by supporters and even the country's president.

Jorge Duván Mosquera, a Llaneros defender, addressed his views to President Iván Duque directly in a 30-second video broadcast on social media on Tuesday, saying: "We fear for our own lives: I and my teammates are scared to go out, we fear something might happen to us on the street."

Llaneros FC stated in a public statement following Mosquera's video that several of its players had received death threats, stating that the club had called the police and recruited a law company to aid its players.

Llaneros FC stated in a public statement following Mosquera's video that several of its players had received death threats, stating that the club had called the police and recruited a law company to aid its players.

One of Colombia's major sporting scandals in recent history has erupted as a result of the event. On Saturday, Llaneros faced Union Magdalena SA in the Colombian second division's championship match.

Magdalena would be promoted to the top division next season if they won, however, Llaneros would have to score five goals to be promoted due to the goal difference.

Llaneros were destined to win the match after gaining a late lead with an 80th-minute goal, but they surrendered two goals in six minutes of extra time, resulting in a Magdalena triumph and promotion.

The Llaneros defensive line, on the other hand, looks to be playing half-heartedly in the second of those two goals, allowing Magdalena's striker to score nearly unopposed.

Mosquera is one of the players who appear to have stopped playing; he can be seen standing in front of his team's goal, watching but not attempting to defend the last-minute goal.

The contest's conclusion prompted immediate condemnation, with the official broadcast commentator slamming the Llaneros and labeling the encounter "a true tragedy."

The outrage grew even louder when the head of Colombia's professional football league declared that an official inquiry into the match had begun.

Match-fixing and sports fraud allegations emerged in Colombian media over the weekend, and current and retired Colombian sportsmen, notably Juventus winger Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, slammed the goal.
 

Publish : 2021-12-11 09:50:00

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