"Football fans against violence" is the name of the project in Colombia, the importance of which was once again tragically demonstrated: Before a football match in Bogota, Oscar Eduardo Sandino, a member of the partner organisation FJMBN, was killed by a fan of the opposing team with a stab in the heart.
In the run-up to a football match between the "Millionarios" from Bogota and Club Deportivo Cali, Oscar Eduardo Sandino, a member of our partner organisation FJMBN (Football Fans Against Violence), was killed by a knife in the heart. Hours before the game, his fan group from Bogota was attacked by local fans from Cali with stones, wooden clubs and knives. Four youngsters, including Oscar's brother, were injured. In the hospital where the injured were taken after the attack, only Oscar's death could be determined.
The family demands justice
The police responded to this clash and dispatched 2 000 police officers to prevent further riots. One suspect has since been arrested and interrogated. Oscar's mother, who was also interviewed in the TV report, stressed Oscar's charitable work and wished for justice: "The perpetrators should be held responsible. In Colombia, these wishes usually go unfulfilled. There is no statement from our partner organisation FJMBN so far.
Commitment to non-violent sport
Oscar was an active member of the terre des hommes schweiz partner organisation FJMBN and was involved in the "barrismo social", a counter concept to the fan culture characterised by violence. The message of this commitment is: non-violent and socially committed fan culture - football is sport, not battle.
Awareness raising campaign in the Suba district
A few days before his death, Oscar spoke to television at an FJMBN event in the Suba district of Bogota (see the TV report below). At the event "barra social en Suba" ("Social Football Fan Club in Suba") a "people's kitchen" was set up, bands played on a stage and through a rubbish collection campaign the people of Suba were integrated into the action. With this the fan group wanted to show that they are part of the community and that the young people are committed to the concerns of the inhabitants of Suba.
terre des hommes schweiz mourns the death of Oscar Sandino and offers its condolences to his family.
