Colombian forward Jáminton Campaz is in hiding after receiving death threats over a missed goal shot that helped knock his team out of the World Cup — refusing to fly home with his teammates and going completely off the grid.
The threats — a chilling echo of the murder of a Colombian player more than three decades ago — against Campaz, 26, began pouring in after he kicked an open shot over the crossbar in extra time during Colombia’s round of 16 match against Switzerland on Tuesday.
The game ended scoreless after extra time before Switzerland won the penalty shootout 4-3, ending Colombia’s World Cup run in Vancouver.
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Campaz took to Instagram to plead for calm — and for his life.
“My Colombia, please let us never lose sight of respect,” the 26-year-old football wrote in Spanish on Instagram on Thursday. “We may hold different views or feel frustration and sadness, but no passion justifies hatred or living in fear.
“Since I was a child, I dreamed of defending Colombia’s colors, hearing the anthem, representing millions of people, and scoring a goal in a World Cup. Today, I can only thank God for allowing me to fulfill that dream. These are memories I will carry with me forever.
“I want to sincerely thank everyone who stood by us during this World Cup – those who believed in us, cheered us on until the very last minute, and never lost faith. Thanks also to my family, who have been my strength at every step and have been by my side during both the happiest and the most difficult moments.”
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Campaz was supposed to board a flight Wednesday from Vancouver to Bogotá with teammates Davinson Sánchez, James Rodríguez and Juan Fernando Quintero, according to online news site Infobae.
He never got on the plane.
It’s unknown if Campaz remains in the US or flew to instead to Argentina — where he plays for Primera División Club Rosario Central.
“To the entire country, I can only say that I share the pain of this elimination. We, too, dreamed of advancing further, and I know the sadness we feel today as Colombians,” he said.
“I deeply regret not being able to bring you the joy we all hoped for, but I want you to know that there was never a lack of dedication, commitment, or love for this jersey. I gave everything I had on the pitch, and I would do it a thousand times over for my country.”
In 1994, Colombian defender Andrés Escobar was shot dead in Medellín just days after scoring an own goal that contributed to the team’s elimination from the World Cup in the US.
Colombia Soccer Federation condemned the threats and called on the Attorney General’s office to open an investigation.
“Football must be a space for unity, respect, and hope — never a stage for hatred, intimidation, or violence,” it said. “Therefore, the Federation calls upon all Colombians to ensure that the differences inherent in sports competition never translate into threats or acts of aggression against those who dedicate their lives to representing the country.”