Colombia forward Jáminton Campaz has reportedly gone into hiding after receiving death threats following his missed goal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16 loss to Switzerland. The 26-year-old Rosario Central striker failed to board his scheduled flight home with teammates James Rodríguez, Davinson Sánchez, and Juan Fernando Quintero after Colombia's elimination.
Campaz Breaks Silence After Threats
In an emotional Instagram statement, Campaz appealed for calm and unity. "My Colombia, please let us never lose sight of respect. We may hold different views or feel frustration and sadness, but no passion justifies hatred or living in fear," he wrote. He reflected on his World Cup journey, saying, "Since I was a child, I dreamed of defending Colombia's colours, 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 fulfil that dream."
Campaz thanked supporters and his family, admitting the elimination was painful. "To the entire country, I can only say that I share the pain of this elimination. We also dreamed of advancing further. I deeply regret not being able to bring you the joy we all hoped for, but 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."
Federation Condemns Intimidation
The Colombian Football Federation condemned the threats and called on the country's Attorney General's Office to investigate. In a statement, the federation said, "The executive committee of the Colombian Football Federation expresses its full solidarity with and support for Jáminton Campaz, his family, all the players in the Colombia national team and the delegation as a whole." It added, "Football must be a space for unity, respect and hope, never a stage for hatred, intimidation or violence. 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."
Campaz missed a glorious opportunity in extra time before converting his penalty in the shootout, but Switzerland prevailed 4-3 to book a quarter-final meeting with Argentina, according to BBC. The incident has drawn comparisons with the tragic case of Andrés Escobar, the Colombian defender who was murdered after the 1994 FIFA World Cup following his own goal against the United States.
