Football referee shot lifeless as horrified gamers and followers witness ‘cold-blooded’ homicide
A referee was shot dead when gunmen stormed a pitch during a match with one mourner saying “to lose a life over a game of football is unacceptable”
Referee Javier Ortega was the victim of a “cold-blooded” murder(Image: Jam Press)
A referee was shot dead in front of horrified players and fans as a football match descended into chaos.
Javier Ortega, 48, was gunned down on the pitch after attackers stormed the field during a game. Eyewitnesses say unidentified gunmen approached during the match and opened fire at the well-known amateur league official in Ecuador.
He collapsed in front of stunned players and spectators as the killers fled the sports ground in Pasaje, El Oro Province on Sunday (April 12). Paramedics rushed to the scene but were unable to save the official and he was pronounced dead at the venue.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
The match was immediately abandoned as terrified crowds scrambled for cover. Police believe the killing may have been a targeted hit.
A police spokesperson said: “We are currently reviewing mobile phone footage and interviewing witnesses to identify the perpetrators.
“This is a cold-blooded crime committed in a space meant for community and sport.”
Refereeing bodies have since expressed outrage, calling for tighter security at grassroots games.
One football official said: “Javier was a dedicated official, to lose a life over a game of football is unacceptable.”
The shocking killing has highlighted growing concerns over violence spilling into amateur football in Ecuador, as reported by NeedToKnow.
Police investigations are ongoing, with no arrests made so far.
Ecuador has seen a surge in brutal violence led by gangs allegedly linked to Mexican and Colombian cartels over the last five years. Hardline policies instituted by its president, Daniel Noboa, have done little to stem the tide of violence to date.
Killings and clashes in neighbourhoods and public spaces are commonplace and the country had the highest number of violent deaths in its history in 2025, with a record rate of 51 homicides per 100,000 residents, according to the Geneva-based Organised Crime Observatory.
