The Columbian national team will go to the field today against host country Brazil, having at the back of their minds the horrible scene ever in their football history.

Remember Andres Escobar

The gruesome murder of international defender Andres Escobar twenty years ago after he erroneously scored in his own goal in a 1 – 2 defeat to the USA that led to the elimination of Columbia from the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Six days after their departure, he was shot six times by gunmen in his home town of Medellin. The murder was linked to drug lords who hard suffered big gambling losses due to Columbian’s exit at the group stage of the competition.

FIFA Probes into Illegal Ticket Sale

On instructions from the World Football Governing Body (FIFA), Brazilian authorities have opened investigations following the arrest in Rio de Janeiro of eleven suspects in connection with the illegal sale of tickets allocated for sponsors, officials, players and none government officials. Two prime suspects, Brazilian footballer Ronaldhino’s brother and agent, Roberto de Assis Moreira and Algerian Mohamadou Lamine Fofana are under questioning. Rio newspaper “O Dia” reported that it had access to police wiretap of a conversation between Roberto and Lamine on June 17, 2014. Another police source also revealed that the ticket ring may also involve several members of some federations.