Andres Escobar, when an own goal is death

Seldom has an own goal can have many repercussions. maybe, Yes in movies it can be easy to see such a scenario such as occurred with the Colombian defense Andres Escobar. The incident occurred during the World 1994. Colombia lost 2-1 against the United States in the second match of the group stage, partly, because the skilled center “coffee” He had the misfortune of getting an own goal while trying to clear a pass from John Harkes US.

A fateful moment that will carry removing one of the best ever Colombia (Valderrama, Asprilla, Corner…) and she earned him the player death. After finishing the championship, while on vacation he went to a nightclub in Medellin to spend what in theory should be a night to forget pains of American tournament. In the parking lot of the local, an amateur named Humberto Muñoz Castro rebuked him for his performance going so far as to insult him. After demanding respect footballer, Muñoz Castro drew a gun and proceeded to fire six shots on the player who caused his death almost instantly.

The public shock at the murder led to the arrest of the murderer, who was a bodyguard and driver of a pair of brothers who were apparently entrepreneurs, David and Juan Pedro Santiago Henao Gallón, whom the authorities suspected had ties to paramilitarism and drug trafficking in Colombia.

His fellow national team René Higuita, Victor Hugo Aristizabal and Mauricio Chicho Serna had the mission to identify the body. The impact of the news was such that in the days after the player's death, his teammates, running fearing the same fate, They were heavily escorted by law enforcement. A funeral Player, near 120.000 people attended, including President of Colombia at that time César Gaviria Trujillo.

Subsequent investigations linked to homicide mafias dedicated to sports betting, although the link could not be verified judicially. The author of the murder was sentenced to 43 years in prison, although it was later downgraded to 23 years, With the entry into force of the new Penal Code of Colombia 2001. The 5 October 2005 the author hosted a benefit extracarcelario allowed to leave prison. This court decision was strongly criticized by various sectors of society, journalists and organizations.

A few years after the death of Escobar established the “Copa Andrés Escobar” champion for the street football championship. A small tribute to one of the largest plants in the Colombian history.