Colombian national team midfielder Jáminton Campaz has publicly denounced receiving death threats following his country’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026, a disturbing reminder of the dark side of soccer passion in Latin America.
Player Forced to Avoid Returning Home
The 26-year-old attacking midfielder, who currently plays for Argentine club Rosario Central, revealed on Thursday that he has been unable to return to his hometown of Tumaco or visit family in Ibagué due to threatening messages on social media. Instead, he remains in Argentina for safety reasons during what should have been a well-deserved break.
In an emotional statement posted on Instagram, Campaz expressed his anguish over the situation. He acknowledged that fans may feel frustration and sadness but emphasized that no level of passion justifies hatred or forcing someone to live in fear. The player shared that representing Colombia and hearing the national anthem at a World Cup had been his childhood dream.
From Hero to Target in Just Weeks
Campaz’s World Cup journey was a rollercoaster of emotions. On June 17, he came off the bench against Uzbekistan and became a hero by scoring a crucial 99th-minute goal to secure a 3-1 victory for Colombia. He later appeared as a substitute in the round of 32 victory against Ghana before his tournament took a painful turn.
During the round of 16 match against Switzerland on July 7, Campaz missed a critical scoring opportunity. Although he successfully converted his penalty kick during the shootout, Switzerland ultimately prevailed 4-3, ending Colombia’s World Cup dreams and triggering a wave of online hatred directed at the player.
Echoes of a Tragic Past
The threats against Campaz carry a chilling historical weight for Colombian soccer. After Colombia’s elimination from the 1994 World Cup, defender Andrés Escobar was shot and killed in Medellín following an own goal he scored against the United States. That tragic incident remains one of the darkest chapters in international soccer history and a painful reminder of how violence has intersected with sports gambling and fan extremism in the country.
Despite the threats, Campaz expressed gratitude for the opportunity to wear his country’s colors and pledged to learn from the difficult experience. He assured fans that his dedication and love for the national team jersey were never in question, promising to return stronger for future challenges.
