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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 supposedly would have 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.

Andres Escobar Murder Investigation Video

Full name: Andrés Escobar Saldarriaga
Date of birth: 13 March 1967
Place of birth: Medellín, Colombia
Date of death: 2 July 1994 (Aged 27)
Height: 1.84 m
Playing position: Defender

Andres Escobar Own Goal in 94 World Cup

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

He was approached by AC Milan at the age of 27 to become the first Colombian to play for an Italian club team. He was supposed to replace Italian football player Franco Baresi.

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, the heavily favored Colombian side was eliminated from the tournament in the first round.

Death (R.I.P): After the World Cup, Escobar decided to return to Colombia instead of visting relatives in Las Vegas, Nevada. On the evening of 2 July 1994, Escobar called his friends and they went to a bar in the El Pobledo neighbourhood. Then they went to a liquor store. Shortly afterwards, they arrived at the “El Indio” nightclub. His friends split up. At around 3 a.m., Escobar was alone in the parking lot of “El Indio” bar, located in a Medellín suburb. Escobar was in his car when three men and a woman accosted him. They begin arguing with him. Two of the men took out handguns. It was reported that the killer shouted “Gol!” (Spanish for “goal”, as in the act of scoring one, mimicking South American sporting commentators for their calls after a goal is scored) for each of the 12 bullets fired. The killer shot Escobar with a 38 caliber pistol. The group then took off in a Toyota pickup truck. Escobar was escorted to the hospital and was pronounced dead 45 minutes later.

The murder was widely believed to be a ‘punishment’ for the goal that spiraled off his leg and went into his 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. In the UK, the BBC issued a public apology the following day after its soccer pundit Alan Hansen commented during another match that “the Argentine defender warrants shooting for a mistake like that.”

Escobar’s funeral was attended by over 120,000 people. Every year people honor Escobar by bringing photographs of him to matches. In July 2002, the city of Medellín revealed a statue in honor of his memory.

Humberto Castro Muñoz, a bodyguard for members of a powerful Colombian cartel, confessed to killing Escobar. Muñoz also worked as a driver for Peter David and Juan Santiago Gallon Henao, who allegedly bet heavily on the Colombian team and was upset at having lost. He was found guilty of Escobar’s murder in June 1995. He was 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. Three of his accomplices were not charged.