Pablo Escobar and the Creation of “Narco-Football” (part 5)

Escobar laundered millions though football starting competition between Drug Lords

With Escobar dead, Columbia was in chaos by those empowered to kill him. It wasn’t understood until his death, that Pablo Escobar had a control over his city of Medellin that prevented more crime than it caused. None of the other cartels would do anything violent without Escobar’s permission. Soon a nation would experience fear like they’ve never known before as Colombia gambling news was made daily.

• Romania defeated the burdened Columbian team in their first World Cup match
• The U.S. team defeated Columbia because of a deflected goal by Andres Escobar
• Andres was shot six times in a parking lot outside of a night club in Medellin

The new terrorists, unlike Escobar, didn’t have a code of conduct or moral standards. Escobar, who killed many, was motivated by certain wrongs done to him. These new criminals, offshoots of the PEPE’s that were equipped by the Columbian, U.S. and Israeli governments, killed for the sake of killing. As the time to begin the World Cup in the U.S. approached, life in Columbia grew worse. The National Football team wouldn’t be able to even find solace on the pitch.

The World Cup begins and Columbia’s plight continues

The Columbia National Football team did their best to focus on the upcoming match against Romania. Higuita, one of the best goaltenders in South America at the time, was replaced by Oscar Cordoba. Unfortunately, it took all over the team’s strength to concentrate. Despite their efforts, it proved extremely difficult for Columbia to score. Romania was able to play aggressively and take advantage of Columbia’s distractions.

Although Columbia was finally able to score, Romania still got the best of them. There was a psychological hold on the Columbia team. They know that a lot of money was being wagered on them by the wrong people and a loss could have “graver” consequences than just losing a match. After the match, one of the player’s fathers called the hotel and notified the team that his brother was killed in Medellin. It seems the Columbian team was right to be worried.

The next match against the U.S. should have been easy. Having defeated them at every “friendly” match they played, Columbia should be able to beat them even in their disabled state. At a team meeting prior to the match, Coach Maturana was in tears and told the team of all the death threats they have received. The coach received a direct threat saying if Barrabas Gomez played, the whole team would get killed. Going up to their rooms, the teams saw reports of these death threats all over US gambling news.

The coach had no recourse but to pull Gomez from the team. Although the police were already in the homes of all the Columbian team’s families, the players were still worried. Attacking from all angles, the ball wouldn’t go in for the Columbian team. On an U.S. team drive for Columbia’s net, the ball accidentally went into the goal when it was deflected by Columbian Team Captain Andres Escobar. The first Columbian player to get an offer from AC Milan, made a mistake that would end more than his career.

Andres Escobar bears the burden and pays the price

Although the teams return to Columbia after their loss wasn’t terribly unpleasant, the team still had concerns. Andres had already taken responsibility for his mistake and he apologized profusely and publicly. The team tried to lift Andres’ spirits and not make him feel blame for the loss. Andres was the teams’ finest player who rarely if ever made mistakes on the pitch. The National Team Captain told Andres to be careful.

Although he would be warned further by many, Andres, a young and free spirit, simply wanted to live his life. Andres one night called up Chonto Herrera and asked him to go out. The teammate responded with “no, it’s best we stay in.” Andres wouldn’t stay in and he said that “he must show his face to the people.” That night would be his last opportunity to do so and he only had but a few hours left to live.

While in his car, several people surrounded Andres vehicle and after words were exchanged, gun shots were fired killing him. Two thousand people attended Andres’ funeral as he was declared as the “soul of Columbia.” The event that rocked gambling news, was speculated by many to be a revenge killing for the mistaking goal made by Andres. Others speculated that cartels who lost money wagering sought to kill Andres.

Andres Escobar made a terrible mistake, which eventually cost him his life

The whole Columbian National Team was given body guards. It was later discovered by Columbian Intelligence that prior to the shooting, Andres went out to a nightclub with some friends. Feeling distant, Andres had a drink and talked to some people. Moments later some people yelled out “Hell of a goal you made!” The insult was taken as such and Andres and his friends went to their cars, but the men followed behind them. After saying more insults, Andres decided to drive over to them and talk to them. After more escalation, one person approached the car and shot Andres six times.

Two people, who gave them license plate numbers, led police to the Gallon brothers, prominent drug traffickers who left Escobar and joined the PEPEs. It would also be discovered later the Andres was shot only because he was talking back to the men and not giving them the respect they thought they had entitled to them. Carlos Castano, head of the PEPE’s met the Gallons and collected USD 3 million to pay of prosecutors to clear the brothers of charges. Ten years later, the Columbian government would work to remove all criminals from football. Soon the money went away and the National team would never qualify for a World Cup again.