The Colombian Football Federation has denounced death threats sent to national team player Jaminton Campaz and asked the country's authorities to find and punish the responsible.
Colombia was eliminated from the World Cup at the round of 16 stage, falling to Switzerland in penalties after a 0-0 draw and a scoreless extra time period.
Campaz, an attacking midfielder who plays with Argentine club Rosario Central, had one of the best chances to end the game in that extra time period, picking off a poor pass from Swiss veteran Granit Xhaka but failing to put his left-footed effort on target in the 115th minute.
Campaz recovered to convert his penalty in the shootout but still was the target of ire from some Colombia fans, even receiving death threats.
"The Colombian Football Federation announces to the public that it categorically denounces the threats made against the life and integrity of Jaminton Campaz and his family, delivered after the match between the national teams of Colombia and Switzerland," the statement begins. "No athlete nor any member of their camp should be the object of intimidations for representing the country on a sporting stage.
"The Executive Committee of the Colombian Football Federation expresses its total solidarty and backing to Jaminton Campaz, to his family, to all players of the Colombia national team and to the delegation in general. It also asks that the Attorney General of the Nation advance, as quickly as possible, the necessary investigations to identify, bring legal action and sanction those responsible for these acts."
Campaz also put out his own statement, saying he shares the pain of fellow Colombians frustrated by the elimination but asking "My Colombia, please let's never leave respect to the side. We can think differently, feel frustration or sadness but no passion justifies hate and living in fear."
The 26-year-old Deportes Tolima product scored for Colombia in a 3-1 World Cup in over Uzbekistan and also appeared as a late substitute in the round of 32 win over Ghana.
The situation recalls one of the darkest moments in Colombian sports. Days after scoring an own goal at the 1994 World Cup, Colombia defender Andres Escobar was murdered while sitting in his car in Medellín. Colombia, struggling with both long conflicts with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and other guerrilla groups and with violence associated with drug cartels, had finished last in the group at the 1994 World Cup after a loss to Romaina and shock defeat to the U.S.
"Soccer must be a space of unity, respect and hope, never a stage for hate, intimidation and violence," the federation's statement this week continued. "Because of that, the federation makes a call to all Colombians that the distinct differences of a sporting competition never be translated into threats or aggressions against those who dedicate their lives to representing the country."
Source: USA Today
