Colombia’s Jamington Campas Goes Into Hiding After Death Threats

Colombian forward Jamington Campas has gone into hiding following death threats after his team was eliminated from the World Cup. Concerns for his safety reportedly caused him to miss the flight home with his teammates.

The 26-year-old faced severe backlash online after missing a key opportunity during extra time in Colombia’s round-of-16 match against Switzerland, which ended in a 4-3 penalty shootout loss for Colombia.

In an emotional Instagram post, Campas urged for respect amid the escalating threats. “My Colombia, please ensure we are respectful,” he wrote in Spanish. He acknowledged the variety of feelings fans might have but stressed that no passion justifies hatred and fear.

Campas shared that representing Colombia at the World Cup had been a lifelong dream, saying, “As a child, I imagined donning the national colors, hearing the anthem, and scoring. I am grateful to God for making that dream a reality.” He expressed appreciation for the support he received and recognized the disappointment felt by the nation.

“To my entire country, I share in the pain of our exclusion. We too had dreams of advancing further,” he added. Campas affirmed that the team’s dedication never wavered, stating, “While I regret not bringing the joy we all hoped for, my commitment and love for this jersey have always been unwavering. I gave everything out there and would do it all over again for my country.”

Reports indicate that Campas was set to return to Bogota with some teammates but did not board the plane. His exact whereabouts are not known, but there’s speculation he might be in North America or possibly Argentina, where he plays for Rosario Central.

The Colombian Football Federation strongly condemned the threats and called for an investigation, emphasizing that “Football should be a space for unity, respect, and hope, not hatred, intimidation, and violence.”

This situation has drawn comparisons to the tragic murder of Colombian defender Andres Escobar, who was killed shortly after scoring an own goal during the 1994 World Cup.

Many social media users criticized the threats, pointing out that no player’s life should be put at risk over a game. “This is unacceptable. As a Colombian, it breaks my heart. We all grieve the loss of our homeland, but threats like this are out of line,” one user commented. Another added, “Death threats for missing a kick? That seems excessive.”