Referee Shot Dead During Match as Police Launch Investigation

A football referee was shot dead during a match in Ecuador, in an attack that unfolded in front of players and spectators.

The victim, identified as 48-year-old Javier Ortega, was officiating a game in Pasaje, a town in the coastal province of El Oro, on Sunday, April 12, when gunmen approached him on the pitch and opened fire, according to local reports.

Witnesses said several assailants carried out the attack before fleeing the scene. Panic followed immediately, with players and fans running for safety as the match was abandoned.

The club involved has suspended upcoming fixtures while authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing. Family members of the referee have called for a swift and thorough inquiry.

Police have launched an investigation and are treating the incident as a targeted attack. Officers are reviewing mobile phone footage recorded at the scene and speaking with witnesses in an effort to identify those responsible.

A football official described Ortega as a committed referee and condemned the violence, stating that losing a life in such a setting is unacceptable. Authorities also characterized the shooting as a deliberate act carried out in a space intended for sport and community activity.