A soccer match in Ecuador turned into a scene of pure horror after a referee was gunned down in the middle of the game.
Javier Ortega, 48, was killed Sunday during an amateur match in Pasaje, a city in the El Oro province, when armed attackers stormed the field. According to reports, multiple gunmen approached Ortega and opened fire, hitting him at least once.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Players and fans immediately panicked, scrambling for cover as chaos erupted across the pitch. The match was abandoned within seconds as the shocking reality set in.
The suspects fled and are still on the run. Authorities say they are treating the killing as a possible targeted hit.
Investigators are now reviewing cellphone footage and speaking with witnesses in hopes of identifying those responsible. “This is a cold-blooded crime committed in a space meant for community and sport,” officials said.
The killing adds to a disturbing wave of violence tied to soccer in Ecuador.
In December, national team player Mario Pineda was shot and killed alongside his partner while leaving a butcher shop in Guayaquil. His mother was also wounded in the attack. Just weeks earlier, a 16-year-old player was killed by a stray bullet, and multiple players were fatally shot in separate incidents in September 2025.
The country has seen a dramatic rise in violence in recent years. Ecuador’s homicide rate surged from six per 100,000 people in 2018 to a staggering 47 in 2023, with gang activity playing a major role. While the number dropped slightly to 38 in 2024, the violence continues to shake communities — even in places once considered safe, like a local soccer field.