The deadly own goal that marred USA’s last World Cup: How 1994 cartel killing of Colombia’s Andres Escobar became football’s most haunting murder mystery

In 1994, Colombian defender Andres Escobar died while telling the story of his own goal in the World Cup.

This is one of the worst stories in sports. Following Colombia’s shock debut, the murder of the captain known as El Caballero del Futbol, ​​the gentleman of football, in front of a nightclub in Medellin shook football deeply.

With six fatal cracks from a .38 caliber pistol, a hero’s life ended, a nation mourned, and a sense of injustice and anger flared over the rampant drug trade plaguing the country.

This is football’s most chilling murder mystery.

Colombia went into the 1994 World Cup as towering figures and were expected to return with the trophy.

There was an overwhelming feeling in the South American nation that it was their time. The golden generation team, which included names such as Carlos Valderrama, Faustino Asprilla and Freddy Rincon, rose to the top of their group without defeat.

In 1993, 70,000 people packed into the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez in Barranquilla to witness Colombia beat Argentina 2-1. A surprising result. Argentina won the Copa Americas back to back and remained unbeaten for 33 matches until they were defeated by the talented yellow team.

Colombia entered seventh heaven when they beat Argentina 5-0 in Buenos Aires later that year to a standing ovation from the fans.

Escobar, Colombia’s captain, is still remembered as a hero in his own country

Pele, the grandfather of the beautiful game, supported La Tricolor by naming them as favorites to win the World Cup. People believed this as we approached the 1994 edition.

After all, this was a difficult time for Colombia and the people needed something to fall behind. Drug lord Pablo Escobar, leader of the multibillion-dollar Medellin drug cartel, was killed in December 1993. As a result, anarchy broke out.

“When Pablo died, the city spiraled out of control,” his cousin Jaime Gavira said in The Two Escobars.

‘Since the boss died, everyone became their own boss. Pablo forbade kidnappings. He ruled the underworld in complete order. You asked for Pablo’s permission if anything illegal happened.’

As Escobar’s campaign of bombings and assassinations ended with him, the drug trade also became more decentralized, harder to track, and unpredictable. Random acts of violence punctuated 1994. During one weekend in June, two people were killed every hour, including a 15-year-old girl.

Moreover, there were widespread rumors that drug cartels and betting gangs had influence over the team.

In fact, one of Pablo Escobar’s luxuries in prison was to be visited by members of the Colombian team, including a reluctant Andres. Goalkeeper Rene Higuita was jailed shortly before the tournament due to his connection to the drug lord.

Head coach Francisco Maturana was said to be under the influence of gangs and later claimed that after the defeat against Romania, he received death threats to let go of Barrabas Gomez, while some players refused to play for fear of the consequences of losing.

Escobar scored an own goal in the match where Colombia lost 2-1 to the USA in Pasadena.

This was the situation in Colombia before and during the tournament, and it was partly why they became such a great prospect. Football can be an escape. Football can unite. Maybe this great team can revive a decaying narco-country.

But they couldn’t. Colombia lost their first match against Romania 3-1 with Gheorge Hagi’s distinctive peach goal. In the scorching heat, in front of 91,000 fans, Colombia performed reasonably well but faded when it mattered. Fans in the stadium and at home were horrified.

They knew that the second group match was vital. Colombia again faced the hosts, the United States, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, this time in front of 93,000 fans.

Here the South Americans failed again and Escobar scored his famous own goal.

In the 35th minute, the defender, who was stretching to direct John Harkes’ cross, accidentally turned the ball into his own goal. Colombia lost 2-1.

This was an instant tarnishing of Escobar’s name in the eyes of criminals who suspected the money was tied to Colombia’s progress. It doesn’t matter that they beat Switzerland 2-0 in their last game to finish the season respectably. Colombia was in last place in the group and Escobar’s death was at the door.

Escobar reportedly received an offer to stay in the United States and work for a Colombian television station. This would allow the boiling blood to cool down a bit. But the always principled defender refused.

He said to his sister Maria Ester, ‘I want to go to Colombia and show my face’ and immediately returned home.

Humberto Munoz pleaded guilty to and served 11 years of his 43-year prison sentence for a shooting.

Colombians demand change from the tragic consequences of events in the USA

He wrote these moving words in Bogota’s El Tiempo newspaper: ‘Life does not end here. We must continue. Life can’t end here. No matter how difficult it is, we must stand up.

‘We have only two choices: either we let the anger paralyze us and the violence continues, or we can overcome it and do our best to help others. It’s our choice. Please let’s maintain respect.

‘I offer my sincere love to everyone. It was such an amazing and rare experience. We’ll see each other again soon because life doesn’t end here.’

These words now evoke an ironic shudder.

The tragic night occurred a few days after Escobar’s return to his hometown. The centre-back visited a nightclub in Medellin with his childhood friend Juan Jairo Galeano and other friends. He never made it home.

At another table in the club were drug traffickers David and Santiago Gallon. Prosecutor Jesus Albeiro Yepes later described how events unfolded: ‘David and Santiago, who were with a group of friends, started shouting from Gallon’s table: “Own goal, Andres, own goal.”

‘They provoked him again and again. He demanded respect and walked away. Andres was unwell all night.

‘When he left in his car, he realized the people harassing him were in the car park.’

Medellin and the rest of Colombia still remember the late Escobar, as well as his control of the drug trade

Escobar was reportedly shot in his car on July 2, 1994. He was taken to hospital but died 45 minutes later, aged 27.

The next day, a drug trafficker named Humberto Castro Munoz confessed to killing her; Munoz was working as the driver for Santiago Gallon, whose team Colombia apparently lost a large sum of money upon exiting the World Cup. Although it is the widely accepted hypothesis, it has never been conclusively proven that his murder was linked to the football accident.

Munoz was sentenced to 43 years in prison but served only 11 years. A huge funeral ceremony was held for Escobar, attended by 120,000 people, including the president of the country.

To this day, he is remembered as a hero in Colombia. If you watch Colombia in this tournament, keep in mind the Gentleman of Football, Andres Escobar. His death serves as a haunting reminder of the fragility of peace.

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