The president of a Colombian second division soccer team was shot dead by hitmen after his club’s defeat last Saturday night. Edgar Páez had been in charge of Tigres de Bogotá since 2016 and was driving home from the club’s Metropolitano de Techo stadium in the capital city when he was attacked by two men on a white motorcycle.
The 63-year-old man was shot four times in the neck and skull and, despite a quick transfer to the Mederi Clinic, Páez died in hospital due to the severity of his injuries. Second division Tigres FC had earlier lost 3-2 to Atlético FC de Cali at their stadium. Police believe the two hitmen followed the vehicle shared by Páez and his daughter after leaving the stadium for several minutes before the attack, and quickly fled the scene.
Páez’s daughter, who was in the passenger seat, was unharmed in the altercation, which was captured by several security cameras on Avenida de las Américas, where the attack occurred.
Bad result or bets?
According to Colombian outlet El Tiempo, two presidents of national soccer teams, who spoke on condition of anonymity, suggested that Páez’s death could be related to sports betting. Last week, the president of Colombia’s Major Football Division (Dimayor), Fernando Jaramillo, confirmed in an interview that the league had received ‘alerts’ about cases of match-fixing in the lower league, where Tigres FC plays, but He did not specify which clubs were under scrutiny or share any further details. In a statement after Páez’s death, Dimayor pledged to pay tribute to the president with black armbands and a minute of silence at a series of league games and competitions.
Tigres also issued a statement after the death of its president in which it highlights the importance of Páez and his seven-year mandate.
“With deep sadness and dismay we report the murder of the president of our institution, Dr. Edgar Páez Cortés,” the statement reads. “This unfortunate incident took place today when he was returning home, after the match against Atlético FC. The Tigres family and the sports community are devastated by this event. Edgar Páez Cortés was a passionate defender of football and an exemplary leader. His commitment to the team and his dedication to the development of the sport in our region left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him. We appreciate the respect of the media and the community at this difficult time. The authorities will be in charge of the relevant investigations,” he concludes.
Before taking over Tigres FC, Páez was a shareholder in another team, Independiente Santa Fe, between 2004 and 2007. In 2010, the club was investigated for alleged money laundering for drug cartels but links between Páez and the operation billionaire were inconclusive.
2023-09-26 11:38:45
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