"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." Jaminton Campaz had to write those words after a football match. Let that land for a second.
Colombia's attacking midfielder — a 26-year-old who scored in the group stage, converted his penalty in the shootout, and gave everything in a grueling 120 minutes against Switzerland — received death threats after the round of 16 exit. The trigger: a left-footed effort in the 115th minute that he failed to get on target after intercepting a poor Granit Xhaka pass. One missed chance. One.
The federation's response — and the shadow of 1994
The Colombian Football Federation didn't bury the issue. They came out swinging, calling on the Attorney General to "identify, bring legal action and sanction those responsible" as quickly as possible. The federation's statement was unambiguous: "Soccer must be a space of unity, respect and hope, never a stage for hate, intimidation and violence."
Nobody covering this story can ignore what hovers over it. In 1994, Andrés Escobar scored an own goal at the World Cup. Days later, he was shot dead in his car in Medellín. Colombia's football has carried that wound for thirty years. That it's still relevant in 2026 is a damning fact.
Campaz plays his club football for Rosario Central in Argentina — he's not even based in Colombia. He came up through Deportes Tolima, scored against Uzbekistan in the group stage, and was a genuine contributor in this tournament. The idea that he should have feared for his safety is not just wrong. It's a failure.
What this means beyond the outrage cycle
Colombia were competitive in this World Cup. A shootout loss to Switzerland isn't a disgrace — it's football's cruelest format doing what it does. The team had real moments, real quality, and a group of players who gave the country a run to be proud of.
Campaz converting under pressure in that same shootout, after missing the chance in extra time, actually says something about his character. The threats against him say something about a different problem entirely — one the federation is right to escalate to the authorities, and one that Colombian football has been trying to outrun for decades.
The federation's call to action is correct. The question is whether it's enough.
