Threats Might Keep Colombians at Home

Colombia’s soccer federation will decide after an investigation into death threats against national team members and their families whether to send the team to Los Angeles this month for the Marlboro Cup.

According to a report Tuesday by the French Press Agency, Colombian President Virgilio Barco ordered the country’s security chief, General Miguel Maza, to investigate the threats, which were made last Thursday by a group calling itself Purge Colombian Soccer.

The group warned Coach Francisco Maturana not to use players from four professional soccer teams that are believed to have connections with drug cartels. The majority of players on the national team have contracts with those teams.

“We must get to the heart of this so the team can prepare normally for the World Cup,” Barco said.

Colombia is scheduled to play at the Coliseum on Feb. 20 and 22 in a tournament with the Soviet Union, Costa Rica and a Mexican team, Chivas of Guadalajara.