Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Apr 23, 2026

Colombian football player receiving death threats over controversial match

Colombian football player receiving death threats over controversial match

A Colombian football player announced he and his teammates have received death threats following a controversial match in Colombia on Saturday.

The match in question, between Llaneros Football Club and Union Magdalena SA, saw Llaneros concede two goals in extra time, resulting in the start of a match-fixing investigation against the club after it was accused by fans and even the country's president of throwing the match.

In a 30-second video posted on social media on Tuesday, Jorge Duván Mosquera, a Llaneros defender, addressed his comments to president Iván Duque himself, saying: "We fear for our own lives: me and my teammates are scared to go out, we fear something might happen to us on the street."

Following Mosquera's video, Llaneros FC confirmed in a public statement that some of its players had received death threats, announcing the club contacted the police and hired a law firm to assist its players.

The incident is spilling out as of one of Colombia's largest sports scandals in recent history. On Saturday, Llaneros were playing against the Union Magdalena SA in the final match of the Colombian second division.

Victory for Magdalena would result in promotion to the top league next year, while Llaneros had to score five goals to be promoted due to goal difference.

After taking a late lead with an 80th minute goal, Llaneros seemed destined to win the match, but during six minutes of extra time, they conceded two goals which resulted in a Magdalena victory and subsequent promotion.

In the second of those two goals, however, the Llaneros defensive line allegedly appears to play half-heartedly and lets Magdalena's striker score almost unchallenged.

Mosquera is one of the players who seemed to stop playing; in front of his team's goal, he can be seen watching without trying to defend the last-minute goal.

The outcome of the match drew criticism right at the final whistle, with the official broadcast commentator criticizing the Llaneros and calling the match "a real shame."

The critiques only mounted when the president of the Colombian professional football league announced the opening of a formal investigation on the match.

Allegations of match-fixing and sports fraud erupted over the weekend in Colombian media, and current and retired Colombian footballers -- including Juventus winger Juan Guillermo Cuadrado -- criticized the goal.

Duque himself joined the criticism late on Sunday night, tweeting: "What happened in the promotion game [...] is a national shame. Sport requires transparency, honesty and zero tolerance facing any situation that delegitimizes ethics."

Colombian President Iván Duque joined criticism of the Llaneros - Magdalena match, tweeting that the events were "a national shame."


In his video, Mosquera personally called Duque out, saying: "Mr. President, we are not corrupt. Perhaps, you might hold your minister accountable the same way you are accusing us now," in a reference to a separate scandal which saw Duque's Minister for Technology leave her post among allegations of embezzlement earlier this year.

Llaneros coach Walter Aristizábal adamantly denied the accusations in a press conference after the game, saying, "We reject all the accusations and allegations of acts of corruption and match-fixing that surfaced on social media, our sports results are testament of the good work and intention of our institution."

Aristizábal also suggested that the players might have been influenced by the fact that promotion was out of reach for Llaneros. "We compete at the highest level, created lots of opportunities that we did not take advantage of. For us, what was fatal was the minute when they scored and drew with us," Aristizábal said.

"I insist that the emotional part is difficult to handle, when they scored, we'd have to score five more to overturn the result, and what can we do with that? We are now focused to prepare the next league and fight for promotion next year."

The situation echoes one of the darkest eras of Colombian football: in the 1990s, several players received death threats following bad performances on the pitch, often at the hands of criminal drug cartels that were involved in Colombian professional football.

Andrés Escobar, seen here on the ground during Colombia's 2-1 loss to the US in the 1994 World Cup, was shot dead in his home town of Medellin just days after his own goal contributed to the Cafeteros' defeat.


In 1994, Colombian football player Andrés Escobar was shot at a night club in Medellin just five days after the Colombian national team was booted out of the World Cup in a 2-1 defeat against the United States due to an Escobar own goal.

The murder was widely believed to be a punishment for the own goal, and for years, it tarnished the image of Colombian football abroad.

In their statement on Tuesday, Llaneros wrote: "The sports world and Colombian football cannot forget that in the 1990s the lives of important Colombian players were impacted in similar situations; we call for calm and to let the competent authorities resolve this issue."

On Monday, Magdalena, the team which benefited from the match result, published a statement claiming the club's conduct is clean and that the match against Llaneros was a fair game.

The Colombian professional league announced the result of the match would stand pending an investigation, and that Magdalena would be invited to join the top league next year.

In a statement to CNN, a spokesman for President Duque said the presidency would not commenting on Mosquera's video.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
News Roundup
Microsoft lost 2.5 millions users (French government) to Linux
Privacy Problems in Microsoft Windows OS
News roundup
Péter András Magyar and the Strategic Reset of Hungary
Hungary After the Landslide — A Strategic Reset in Europe
Meghan Markle Plans Exclusive Women-Focused Retreat During Australia Visit
Starmer and Trump Hold Strategic Talks on Securing Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions
Unofficial Australia Visit by Prince Harry and Meghan Expected to Stir Tensions with Royal Circles
Pipeline Attack Cuts Significant Share of Saudi Arabia’s Oil Export Capacity
UK Stocks Rise on Ceasefire Momentum and Renewed Focus on Diplomacy
UK to Hold Further Strategic Talks on Strait of Hormuz Security
Starmer Voices Frustration as Global Tensions Drive Up UK Energy Costs
UK Students Voice Concern Over Proposal for Automatic Military Draft Registration
Rising Volatility Drives Uncertainty in UK Fuel and Petrol Prices
UK Moves to Deploy ‘Skyhammer’ Anti-Drone System to Strengthen Airspace Defense
New Analysis Explores UK Budget Mechanics in ‘Behind the Blue’ Feature
Man Arrested After Four Die in Channel Crossing Tragedy
UK Tightens Immigration Framework with New Sponsor Rules and Fee Increases
UK Foreign Secretary Highlights Impact of Intensified Strikes in Lebanon
UK Urges Inclusion of Lebanon in US-Iran Ceasefire Framework
UK Stocks Ease as Ceasefire Doubts in Middle East Weigh on Investor Confidence
UK Reassesses Cloud Strategy Amid Criticism Over Limited Support Measures
UK Calls for Full and Toll-Free Access Through Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions
Starmer Signals Strategic Shift for Britain Amid Escalating Iran-Linked Tensions
UK Issues Firm Warning to Russia Over Covert Underwater Military Activity
OpenAI Halts Stargate UK Project, Casting Uncertainty Over Britain’s AI Expansion Plans
Starmer Voices Frustration Over Global Pressures Driving UK Energy Costs Higher
UK Deploys Military Assets to Protect Undersea Cables From Suspected Russian Threat
Canada Aligns With US, UK and Australia as Europe Prepares Major Digital Border Overhaul
Meghan Markle’s Planned Australia Appearance Sparks Fresh Speculation
Starmer Warns Sustained Effort Needed to Ensure US–Iran Ceasefire Holds
UK to Partner with Shipping Industry to Rebuild Confidence in Strait of Hormuz, Cooper Says
UK Interest Rate Expectations Ease Following US–Iran Ceasefire Agreement
Starmer Signals Major Effort Needed to Fully Reopen Strait of Hormuz During Gulf Visit
UK Fuel Prices Face Ongoing Volatility Amid Global Pressures and Domestic Factors
Kanye West’s Planned Italy Festival Appearance Draws Debate After UK Entry Ban
Smuggling Routes Shift Toward Belgium as Migrant Crossings to UK Evolve
Ceasefire Offers Potential Relief for UK Fuel and Food Prices Amid Ongoing Uncertainty
Iran Conflict Raises Questions Over UK’s Global Influence and Military Preparedness
Senator McConnell Visits Kentucky to Highlight Federal Investment in Local Projects
Kanye West Barred from Entering UK as Legal Grounds Come into Focus
UK Denies Visa to Kanye West After Sponsors Withdraw from Wireless Festival
Trump-Era Forest Service Restructuring Leads to Closure of UK Lab Focused on Kentucky Woodland Health
Foreign Students in the UK Describe Harsh Living Conditions and Financial Pressures
Reform UK Proposes Visa Restrictions on Nations Pursuing Reparations Claims
Public Reaction Divides Over UK Decision to Bar Kanye West
Calls Grow for UK to Review US Base Access Following Concerns Over Escalating Rhetoric
UK Indicates It Will Not Permit Use of Its Bases for Potential US Strikes on Iran’s Energy Infrastructure
UK Prime Minister Defends Decision to Bar Kanye West, Questions Festival Booking
×