A soccer referee has been shot dead in a shocking attack during a match in Ecuador.
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Javier Ortega, 48, was reportedly killed during an amateur game in Pasaje, located in the province of El Oro, on Sunday.
Reports claim multiple gunmen approached Ortega and opened fire, "shooting him at least once."
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but Ortega was pronounced dead shortly after.
Referee Shot Dead During Match in Ecuador
Ortega, described as a "well-known amateur league official," collapsed on the pitch, leaving players and spectators in shock.
As panic spread, players and fans scrambled for safety, forcing the immediate abandonment of the match.
"The organizing club suspended future matches until the circumstances of the incident are clarified," local outlet LN 100 wrote. "Family members gathered at the scene and called for a swift investigation."
Authorities have begun investigating the killing, with early reports suggesting it may have been a targeted attack.
According to The Sun, investigators believe the shooting could have been a "targeted hit," though no official motive has been confirmed.
The attack has sparked outrage both locally and across social media, with renewed calls for increased security at sporting events.
Local police confirmed they are reviewing footage from mobile phones captured at the scene.
"[We are] interviewing witnesses to identify the perpetrators," authorities said, via The Sun. "This is a cold-blooded crime committed in a space meant for community and sport."
No Arrests Made as Violence in Ecuador Raises Alarm
Police have yet to make any arrests, with the suspects fleeing the scene and remaining at large.
"To lose a life over a game of football is unacceptable," a soccer official said.
The incident adds to growing concerns over soccer-related violence in Ecuador in recent years.
In December, Ecuadorian national team player Mario Pineda was shot and killed while leaving a butcher shop in Samanes, Guayaquil.
His mother was injured, while his partner also died in the attack.
Two suspects were arrested in that case.
"[In November], a 16-year-old soccer player died from a stray bullet, while in September 2025, Expapromo Cosa players Maicol Valencia and Leandro Yépez and Jonathan Gonzales of 22 de Julio FC were all killed in multiple shooting incidents," The New York Post's Michael Blinn wrote.
Now, the recent killing of Ortega has once again raised urgent questions about safety in Ecuadorian soccer, with pressure mounting on authorities to act swiftly.
