Jaminton Campaz, 26 years old, had the ball to send Colombia into the quarterfinals. Minute 115, a very clear chance against Switzerland. He missed it. Colombia then fell in the penalty shootout, and the entire country felt the blow of elimination.
But what happened afterward has nothing to do with football anymore. According to Infobae, the attacker was unable to board the return flight to Bogotá with the rest of the national team: he received death threats directed at him and his family. He had to remain stranded in Vancouver, restrict comments on his social media, and publicly ask for respect.
This same player scored in his first World Cup. He converted his penalty in the shootout. He ran, fought, and did not give up until the final whistle. And even so, today he fears for his life and that of his loved ones, because for some, a missed goal justifies hatred. Football hurts for fifteen minutes. Violence can last forever. How long will we keep confusing passion with threats? ⚽😢