The president of a Colombian second-tier soccer club met a tragic end when he was fatally shot by hired gunmen following his team’s defeat on Saturday night.
Edgar Paez, who had been at the helm of Tigres de Bogota since 2016, was driving home from the club’s Metropolitano de Techo stadium in the capital city when he became the target of two assailants on a white motorcycle.
The 64-year-old was subjected to four gunshot wounds to his neck and skull. Despite a swift transfer to the Mederi Clinic, Paez succumbed to the severity of his injuries and passed away in the hospital.
Tigres FC, competing in the second division, had previously suffered a 3-2 loss to Atletico FC de Cali at their home ground.
The two hitmen appeared to have been trailing Paez’s vehicle, which also carried his wife and daughter, for several minutes after leaving the stadium before launching the attack. They quickly fled the scene.
Paez’s daughter, who was in the passenger seat, miraculously escaped unharmed during the incident, which was captured by numerous security cameras on Avenida de las Americas, where the assault occurred.
According to an interview with Paez’s brother, Wilson, on the television program NotiCentro1, Paez’s niece narrowly escaped harm as a bullet “grazed her temple.” Wilson Paez shared, “Fortunately, my niece (Edgar’s daughter) is alive, because one of her bullets grazed her temple. In the midst of this tragedy we have the consolation of knowing that she is fine.”
Reported by Colombian outlet El Tiempo, two presidents of Colombian football clubs, who chose to remain anonymous, suggested that Paez’s death might be linked to sports betting.
Just last week, Fernando Jaramillo, the president of Colombia’s top-flight Major Football Division (Dimayor), acknowledged in an interview with SEMANA that the league had received “alerts” regarding instances of match-fixing in the division below, where Tigres FC competes. However, he did not specify which clubs were under scrutiny or provide further details.
Nonetheless, Wilson Paez vehemently refuted rumors that his brother’s death was connected to illicit activities, stating, “They are pure speculation. Some journalists and media tend to weave very delicate theories into their information, but they do not reflect the true reality.”
“Some suggest that he could be involved in money laundering or drug trafficking, which is far from his economic situation and the results of the investigations against him.”
In the wake of Paez’s tragic demise, Dimayor pledged to honour the president with black armbands and a minute’s silence during various league fixtures and competitions. Teams playing against each other plan to embrace during the moment of silence, symbolizing their rejection of violence and commitment to fair play and unity.
Tigres also released a statement following their president’s passing, underscoring the significance of Paez’s seven-year tenure at the helm in Bogota.
The statement read, “With deep sadness and dismay we report the murder of the president of our institution, Dr. Edgar Paez Cortes,” the statement read.
“This unfortunate incident took place today when he was returning to his home after the match played against Atletico FC.’ ‘The Tigres family and the sports community are devastated by this event. Edgar Paez Cortes 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 in this difficult time. The authorities will be in charge of the pertinent investigations.”
Before assuming the role at Tigres FC, Paez had invested in another team, Independiente Santa Fe, from 2004 to 2007. In 2010, the club faced investigations for alleged money laundering on behalf of drug cartels, but any direct links between Paez and the multi-million dollar operation remained inconclusive.
