The Colombian Football Federation has publicly condemned death threats made against midfielder Jaminton Campaz and his family, urging the nation's attorney general's office to investigate the incidents.
The condemnation comes after Campaz missed a critical scoring opportunity in extra time during Colombia's Round of 16 World Cup loss to Switzerland. Following the match, the player's social media accounts were reportedly inundated with negative comments and threats.
As a precautionary measure, Campaz limited comments on his social media and opted not to travel back to Colombia with his teammates.
In a statement, the federation emphasized that "no athlete, nor any member of their camp, should be subjected to intimidation for representing their country in a sporting context." The organization expressed full solidarity with Campaz, his family, and the entire national team.
"Football must be a space for unity, respect, and hope — never a setting for hatred, intimidation or violence," the federation declared, imploring fans to prevent sporting disappointments from escalating into real-world aggression.
Campaz himself shared a message on Instagram appealing for respect, stating, "Football is also made up of difficult moments. My Colombia, please let us never lose sight of respect. We may think differently or feel frustration and sadness, but no passion justifies hatred or living in fear."
The federation's call for an investigation and its emphasis on respect draw parallels to the 1994 World Cup, when defender Andres Escobar was murdered in Medellin days after scoring an own goal that contributed to Colombia's exit from the tournament. The federation referenced this tragedy in its statement.
Colombia's World Cup campaign concluded with the penalty shootout loss to Switzerland. The Swiss team is set to face Argentina in the quarterfinals.