Colombian star Jaminton Campaz did not return home to Colombia following the team’s World Cup elimination amid fears for his life, according to a report.
Colombia were knocked out of the World Cup in a penalty shootout against Switzerland in the Round of 16 on Tuesday.
Campaz had the chance to snatch a last-gasp winner in the final six minutes of extra time when he went through on goal but smashed his shot over the crossbar, keeping the score level at 0-0.
He managed to redeem himself by converting his penalty kick in the shootout but it ultimately wasn’t enough for Colombia, who lost 4-3.
Since their agonizing World Cup exit, the forward has received a flood of death threats and abuse on social media.
Amid the abuse, it has now emerged that the 26-year-old did not make the flight back to his homeland following the devastating defeat due to safety concerns, according to Argentine outlet Infobae.
Colombian star Jaminton Campaz missed a last-gasp chance against Switzerland
The forward and his family have received death threats since Colombia’s World Cup exit
Colombian players James Rodriguez, Davinson Sanchez and Juan Fernando Quintero were among those who boarded a plane from Vancouver to Bogota on Thursday morning. However, Campaz was reportedly not among them.
It is unclear if Campaz remained in the United States or whether he took a separate flight to Argentina, where he plays for Primera Division club Rosario Central.
The player took to Instagram to plead for calm and respect, while emotionally reflecting on his World Cup experience.
‘My Colombia, please let us never lose sight of respect,’ he wrote. ‘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.’
He added: ‘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.
‘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.’
He smashed his shot over the crossbar, keeping the score level at 0-0 in extra time
Andres Escobar was murdered in cold blood shortly after his own goal in Colombia’s disaster 1994 World Cup – and many people believe the two events were linked
The sad situation is reminiscent of the tragedy that rocked the Colombian team during the 1994 World Cup, which also took place in the United States.
Colombian defender Andres Escobar was murdered outside a nightclub in Medellin just days after scoring an own goal in a group stage game against the USA, which all but sealed their exit from the tournament.
In the wake of the abuse against Campaz, the Colombian Football Federation (FCF) has condemned the threats, calling on the Colombian Attorney General’s Office to open an investigation.
It urged the AG to identify and ‘prosecute and punish’ those responsible ‘as swiftly as possible.’
“No athlete, nor any member of their inner circle, should be subjected to intimidation for representing their country in a sporting arena,” the federation said in a statement.
“Football must be a space for unity, respect, and hope – never a setting for hatred, intimidation or violence,” the federation said, calling on fans to ensure that sporting disappointments never translate into real-world aggression.
