Soccer is a game of love and passion but sometimes tragedies spill blood on this beautiful sport. Tigres FC is a club in the second division of Colombian soccer. Recently the club has reported that their president Edgar Paez has been tragically killed in an encounter.
He was shot in the throat, neck, and skull, and although he was rushed to the hospital, the medical authorities were unable to save him
Paez and his daughter were returning home from a match between Tigres and Atletico FC. The match ended in a 3-2 loss for the club which left them in the second-last position in the table after having only 2 wins out of 13 matches.
The 63-year-old President was driving home when he was killed by 2 men on a motorbike near the Tigres’ Metropolitano de Techo stadium. The daughter fortunately was left unharmed by the attackers.
🚨 The president of Colombian 2nd division club Tigres FC, Edgar Paez, was shot dead following his team’s defeat on Saturday.
The 63-year-old was returning home with his daughter after the loss to Atletico FC when he was killed by two men close to the stadium.
✍️ ESPN pic.twitter.com/7eUAykYR8F
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) September 26, 2023
The club and the Colombian Football Federation have sent their condolences to the Paez family as an investigation is currently underway to find the attackers. Fernando Jaramillo who is the President of the Major Division of Colombian Professionals has also mourned the loss of the former Director of Independiente Santa Fe.
The club also announced there would be a minute of silence period in the next 2 matches of Tigres for the mourning of their deceased President. Fans online were devastated by this news and their reactions tell the same story.-
🚨 The president of Colombian 2nd division club Tigres FC, Edgar Paez, was shot dead following his team’s defeat on Saturday.
The 63-year-old was returning home with his daughter after the loss to Atletico FC when he was killed by two men close to the stadium.
✍️ ESPN pic.twitter.com/7eUAykYR8F
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) September 26, 2023
It should be remembered that violence is not the answer and the club and Colombian federation must do something to bring the murderers to justice.
Other tragic incidents in South American soccer
Soccer in South America is well known for its passion and hooliganism. Many such incidents have taken place throughout the history. Once in the Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and River Plate CONMEBOL shifted the game to be played in Europe’s Santiago Bernabeu to prevent any possible violence.
One of the most famous incidents comes from Colombia when back during World Cup 94′ in the USA, Andrés Escobar’s own goal led to the nation’s elimination from the competition. Later the soccer player was murdered at a car park by 6 bullets fired to his back as punishment for his country’s elimination who were one of the dark horses in the competition.
The World Cup champions Argentina have produced some brilliant players but still is the home to the most incidents of soccer hooliganism. In 2017, Emmanuel Balbo was killed at the hands of rival fans for wearing a T-shirt that read ‘Belgrano My Life’. Ironically enough he was killed in the city of Cordoba, where Club Atletico Belgrano is based.
Mural pintado por un grupo de internos del Penal de Libertad, en homenaje a Hernán Fioritto. pic.twitter.com/u40IKOq2Nj
— Somos Carboneros (@somoscarboneros) November 17, 2016
In 2016, Hernan Fioritto was killed during Peñarol’s 125th anniversary by Nacional supporters. Peñarol and Nacional are archrivals and two of the biggest clubs in Uruguyian soccer. In 2009 in another nation of South America Chile, two people died and more than 200 were arrested after the local “Clasico” match between Colo Colo and Universidad de Chile.
7. Fallout 3
A UFO has crash-landed near a power station!
Thank God for the alien’s dead and it’s even left you a little surprise 🔫 pic.twitter.com/vPZ6iOyYRv
— Gfinity (@Gfinity) October 29, 2021
In Colombia, another incident took place during a match between Alianza Petrolera and Millonarios when Carlos Virviescas was fatally wounded while trying to break up a fight. But one of the most heartbreaking incidents which comes from Venezuela is the ‘Los Maniceros massacre’ where 11 members of the Colombian team Los Maniceros were kidnapped and murdered with their bodies found in several places across Venezuela.