5 Most Disturbing Things That Ever Happened In Football

The Murder Of Andrés Escobar — Killed For An Own Goal (1994)

Andrés Escobar was a beloved Colombian defender, known as “The Gentleman of Football” for his composure and sportsmanship. At the 1994 World Cup, he scored an own goal in Colombia’s 2-1 defeat to the United States, which contributed to the team’s elimination from the tournament. Ten days later, on July 2, 1994, the 27-year-old was shot dead outside a bar in Medellín. According to accounts, he was confronted by men who blamed him for his own goal, and their bodyguard shot him six times. The murder is widely believed to have been linked to drug lords who had lost large sums of money betting on Colombia to win. Teammates had urged him to delay his return home until tensions eased. He didn’t listen.