July 2, 2008

Andreas Escobar Shot Dead



Today's anniversary is a tragic reminder that football is only a game.

It was on this day back in 1994, during the World Cup in the USA, that the Colombian international defender Andreas Escobar was killed outside a nightclub in the city of Medellin. Fourteen years on from the killing, it's still not clear whether his murder was ordered by a gambling cartel or if it was the work of one disgruntled individual.

The Colombian team arrived in the USA as one of the favourites. They put in a fairly impressive qualifying campaign, the highlight of which was their 5-0 demolition of Argentina in Buenos Aires. This would lead to Pele's prediction that Colombia would win the World Cup.

That turned out to be an unmitigated disaster, like many of Pele's business deals. Amidst murmurings of gambling syndicates and drug cartels hovering over the squad, the team shocked the world by losing 3-1 to a Hagi-inspired Romania.

But worse was to come next. The USA beat them 2-1, with Escobar scoring his apocalyptic own-goal to help them on their way. A 2-0 victory over Switzerland in their final game could not save them from finishing bottom of the group and crashing out in the first round.

And so a few days later on July 2nd 1994, the gunman struck. It's said that the killer shouted 'Goal' as each of the twelve bullets were fired.

It seems overly simplistic to believe that Escobar's murder happened as a result of his own-goal. After all, the whole team under-performed. Unfortunately the murderer chose not to see it that way. Had he or his contractors lost large sums of money as a result of Colombia's early exit?

A postcript to the sad tale is that the gunman was released early from prison in 2005, having served only 11 years of his 43 year sentence. Justice?

LINKS:

Wikipedia - article on Escobar

BBC Sport - from 2002 World Cup preview

BBC Sport - Jan 10 2006 - reminder that Colombian footballers being shot is an ongoing problem

The Independent - March 24 2007 - tradition in sport is to carry on when tragedy strikes

YouTube - clip of Escobar's own goal

YouTube - a tribute to him

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bonjour, footballanniversaries.blogspot.com!
[url=http://esviagra.fora.pl/ ] viagra online[/url] [url=http://viagraespana.fora.pl/ ]vendo viagra [/url] [url=http://viagraes.fora.pl/ ]venta de viagra [/url] [url=http://viagramedica.fora.pl/ ]vendo viagra en espana[/url] [url=http://viagrasinreceta.fora.pl/ ]venta de viagra [/url] [url=http://farmaciaviagra.fora.pl/ ]venta de viagra online[/url]

Anonymous said...

I love footballanniversaries.blogspot.com! Here I always find a lot of helpful information for myself. Thanks you for your work.
Webmaster of http://loveepicentre.com and http://movieszone.eu
Best regards

Rob said...

Such a good idea - but why havn't you carried it on?

Anonymous said...

buy xanax xanax withdrawal pregnancy - xanax bars drug info

Anonymous said...

buy xanax xanax dosage pink pill - xanax weed high

Anonymous said...

[url=http://loveepicentre.com/][img]http://loveepicentre.com/uploades/photos/4.jpg[/img][/url]
dwayne johnson dating [url=http://loveepicentre.com/faq.php]norway dating and love site[/url] dating browse free
dating sites in scotland [url=http://loveepicentre.com/]internet dating profiles samples[/url] online new 100 free dating site
free refurbished dating sites [url=http://loveepicentre.com/articles.php]essays on online dating[/url] dating ryan waddell kentucky

Anonymous said...

sumita arora c 12th class ebook http://audiobooksworld.co.uk/Marijuana/p143062/ lover unbound ebook format [url=http://audiobooksworld.co.uk/it/The-Complete-Idiot-s-Guide-to-Difficult-Conversations/p222724/]weed growers bible ebook[/url] quantitative feedback theory ebook

Anonymous said...

[url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/zovirax.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/6.jpg[/img][/url]
pharmacy in springfield ohio http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/zetia.htm fedex pharmacy [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/cephalexin.htm]york south carolina pharmacy[/url]
australian online pharmacy http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/ed-discount-pack-3.htm pharmacy jobs in dayton ohio [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/seroquel.htm]seroquel[/url]
canada pharmacy oral medic http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/zocor.htm when is national pharmacy week [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/hyzaar.htm]allenhill pharmacy franklin tennessee[/url]
pharmacy drug medicines http://redbrickstore.co.uk/catalogue/g.htm mail order discount pharmacy [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/categories/erectile-dysfunction.htm]erectile dysfunction[/url]

Anonymous said...

I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing
this web site. I'm hoping the same high-grade site post from you in the upcoming also. In fact your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own web site now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings fast. Your write up is a good example of it.

Feel free to visit my web site; face book of sex

Anonymous said...

We absolutely love your blog and find almost all of your post's to be what precisely I'm looking for.
Would you offer guest writers to write content available for you?
I wouldn't mind creating a post or elaborating on most of the subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome web site!

Here is my blog post dating on the internet

Anonymous said...

you are really a good webmaster. The web site loading speed is amazing.
It seems that you are doing any unique trick.

Furthermore, The contents are masterwork. you have done a great job on this topic!


Also visit my weblog - japan-fishing.net

Anonymous said...

Hey this is kinda of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use
WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.

I'm starting a blog soon but have no coding knowledge so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Feel free to surf to my webpage: dating websits

Anonymous said...

Hi there, just was alert to your blog thru Google,
and found that it is really informative. I�m gonna watch out for brussels.
I�ll appreciate when you continue this in future. Many other people shall be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!

Also visit my page: online dating chat

Anonymous said...

I just could not depart your site prior to suggesting that I actually loved the standard information
an individual supply on your visitors? Is gonna be again regularly in order
to check out new posts

Review my web blog ... barcamp-bordeaux.com

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your post. I would also like to
say a health insurance brokerage service also works best for the benefit of the particular
coordinators of your group insurance policies. The health broker is given a directory of benefits looked for
by somebody or a group coordinator. Such a broker can is hunt for individuals or coordinat

Here is my web blog :: dirty dating

Anonymous said...

Incredible! This blog looks exactly like my old one!

It's on a totally different subject but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Superb choice of colors!

My web blog - wayn dating

Anonymous said...

ngs, abdominal area, or the sac which encircles one's heart. Thanks for revealing your ideas.

Review my page online dating dating

Anonymous said...

Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you
using for this website? I'm getting sick and tired of Wordpress because I've had issues with hackers and I'm looking at options for another platform. I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.

Feel free to surf to my web page ... facebook sex

Anonymous said...

Can I simply say what a reduction to search out somebody who really is aware of what theyre
speaking about on the internet. You positively know how
one can deliver an issue to mild and make it important.
More individuals have to learn this and understand this facet of
the story. I cant believe youre not more well-liked since
you definitely have the gift.

my web page harmony dating

Anonymous said...

Thanks a lot for sharing this with all of us you really know what you are talking about!
Bookmarked. Please also visit my website =).
We could have a link exchange contract between
us!

Also visit my blog post; sex facebook

Anonymous said...

magnificent submit, very informative. I ponder why the opposite specialists of this sector don't understand this. You should proceed your writing. I am sure, you have a huge readers' base already!


My weblog; historyofgaming.de

Anonymous said...

One thing I'd prefer to say is the fact car insurance cancellations is a hated experience and if you're doing the right
things as a driver you will not get one. A number of people do have the notice that they
have been officially dumped by the insurance company they have to scramble to get extra insurance after having a
cancellation. Affordable auto insurance rates tend to be hard to get after a cancellation.
Having the main reasons pertaining to auto insurance cancellations can help drivers prevent losing one of the most critical
privileges obtainable. Thanks for the ideas shared by
your blog.

Look at my blog post :: black dating sites

Anonymous said...

Magnificent goods from you, man. I've be aware your stuff prior to and you are just extremely wonderful. I actually like what you have obtained here, certainly like what you are saying and the best way in which you assert it. You're making it enjoyable and
you still care for to stay it smart. I can not wait to read much more from you.

That is actually a terrific site.

Also visit my page - beste dating sites

Anonymous said...

It�s really a nice and useful piece of info.
I�m satisfied that you simply shared this helpful info with
us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks
for sharing.

Also visit my web site ... top dating sites

Anonymous said...

Together with almost everything which appears to be developing
within this specific subject matter, your opinions are generally fairly refreshing.

Even so, I am sorry, because I can not subscribe
to your entire plan, all be it exhilarating none the less.
It would seem to me that your commentary are generally not completely

Here is my blog free datings site

Anonymous said...



Feel free to visit my webpage german dating

Anonymous said...

Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with SEO?
I'm trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I'm not seeing very good gains.

If you know of any please share. Kudos!

Check out my site; facebook of sex

Anonymous said...

I�m not sure where you're getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for great information I was looking for this info for my mission.

Have a look at my web site - cyber sex

Anonymous said...

An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who
was doing a little evaluation on this. And he actually purchased me breakfast because I found it for him.
. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the deal with!
However yeah Thnkx for spending the time
to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love studying more on this topic.
If attainable, as you develop into expertise, would you thoughts updating your blog with extra particulars?
It is highly helpful for me. Massive thumb up for this blog put
up!

Feel free to visit my web site :: fuck book

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your info. I truly appreciate your efforts and I am waiting for your
next post thank you once again.

my homepage: acoustic guitar chords for beginners

Anonymous said...

Sometimes seasons reasons some shoes might well be[url=http://niketrainersuksale.webeden.co.uk]Nike Air Max[/url]
temporarily do not possess the opportunity to[url=http://tomscanadaoutlet.snappages.com]Toms Shoes Outlet[/url]
wear such shoes we've got to[url=http://addnikecanadastore.snappages.com]Nike Shoes Online[/url]
properly stick them[url=http://toplouboutinuksales.webeden.co.uk]Christian Louboutin UK[/url]
within your[url=http://louboutintrainersuk.blog.co.uk]Christian Louboutin Sale[/url]
right put in to avoid unnecessary harm to shoes[url=http://salelouisvuittonuk.webeden.co.uk]Louis Vuitton UK[/url]

If your insole is really bad, [url=http://cheapnikeblazersuk.webeden.co.uk]Nike Blazers UK[/url]
it could want to use a gentle brush and water gently scrub. Could be noted that,[url=http://justlouboutintrainersuk.webeden.co.uk]Christian Louboutin Wedding Shoes[/url]
avoid the use of chemical soaps cleaning, or some might make the insole surface of cloth off.[url=http://shoppradabagsuk.webeden.co.uk]Prada UK[/url]

Anonymous said...

Good post. I definitely appreciate this website. Stick with
it!
the seo company

Anonymous said...

Tuxedo customer According warm to ray ban new wayfarer chilly services cheap ray ban sunglasses actually find body http://www.toms-outlet2013.net/ ninety of 5 michael kors factory outlet fashion choose bags type huge michael kors purses seen perfect We different