Andreas Escobar

Andrés Escobar Saldarriaga (13 March 1967 – 2 July 1994) was a Colombian footballer who was shot and killed in Medellín. It is widely believed that he was murdered due to his own goal in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which caused gambling losses to several powerful drug lords. Andrés Escobar is still held in the highest regard by Colombian fans, and is especially mourned and remembered by Atlético Nacional’s fans. His brother, Santiago, has managed many Colombian teams.

Club career

He was born to Dario Escobar who founded an organisation which gives young people the opportunity to play football instead of being on the streets. He also has a brother called Santiago who won the Copa Mustang with Atlético Nacional.

Escobar was a defender for Colombia in the World Cup in 1990 and 1994. His jersey number was 2, and was known by the nicknames “El Caballero del Futbol” (“The Gentleman of Football” or “Football’s Knight”) and “The Immortal Number 2″. In his club career, he played for Medellín side Atlético Nacional and Swiss side Young Boys Bern.

International career

He scored his only regular international goal in a 1–1 draw against England at Wembley in 1988.

Escobar’s infamous own goal occurred in a match against the United States on 22 June during the 1994 World Cup. Stretching to cut out a cross from U.S. midfielder John Harkes, he deflected the ball into his own net in the second match of Group A. The USA won the game 2–1, and as a result, Colombia was eliminated from the tournament in the first round.

Death

On 2 July 1994, Escobar was shot outside “El Indio” bar, located in a Medellín suburb. It was reported that the killer shouted “Goal!” (mimicking South American sporting commentators for their calls after a goal is scored) for each of the 6 bullets fired.

The murder was widely believed to be a punishment for the own goal. It is not clear whether the murderer was one of the gambling syndicates who had bet large amounts of money on Colombia to qualify for the second round. The BBC issued an apology the following day after its pundit Alan Hansen commented on another match that “the Argentine defender wants shooting for a mistake like that.”

Escobar’s funeral was attended by 120,000 people and a statue was built in his honor. Every year people honor Escobar by bringing photographs of him to matches.

Humberto Castro Muñoz was found guilty of Escobar’s murder in June 1995 and sentenced to 43 years in prison.

The sentence was later reduced to 26 years due to his submitting to the ruling penal code in 2001. Humberto was released on good behavior due to further reductions from prison work and study in 2005 after serving approximately 11 years.

Honours

Atlético Nacional

• Copa Libertadores: 1

1989

• Colombian Championship: 1

1991

• Copa Interamericana: 1

1989

’30 for 30′

In 2009 and 2010 ESPN broadcast “30 for 30″, a series of sports-themed documentaries timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the sports and entertainment network. “The Two Escobars” by directors Jeff and Michael Zimbalist looked back at Colombia’s World Cup run and the relationship of sports and the country’s criminal gangs—notably the Medellin narcotics cartel run by Pablo Escobar.