Campas was in crisis after failing to score in the last-16 match against Switzerland, which Colombia lost on penalties.
Published July 10, 2026
Colombian player Jamington Campas received death threats after being eliminated from the World Cup, the country’s soccer federation said, condemning the threats.
“No athlete, nor any member of his or her inner circle, should be subject to intimidation for representing their country on the sporting stage,” the Colombian Football Federation (FCF) said in a statement on Friday.
Colombia’s tournament ended on Tuesday with a penalty shootout loss to Switzerland in the round of 16. Campas, who plays for Argentinian club Rosario Central, missed a crucial scoring opportunity when his shot went off target during extra time.
Campas shared a photo on Instagram of himself covering his face in frustration, pleading for respect.
“There are difficult moments in football,” he wrote. “Dear Colombians, please remember that we are respectful. We may think differently, we may feel dissatisfied and sad, but no passion justifies living in hatred and fear.”
The harassment prompted the Colombian federation to call on the country’s attorney general’s office to expedite an investigation to identify those behind the threats.
“Football must be a place of unity, respect and hope. It must never be a place of hatred, intimidation and violence,” the federation said, calling on fans to never allow disappointment in sport to turn into real-world aggression.
The threat sparked a dark chapter in Colombian soccer history. At the 1994 World Cup in the United States, defender Andrés Escobar scored an own goal in a 2-1 loss to the host nation. Escobar was killed in Medellin days after his team was defeated and returned home.
