Tragedy Strikes Ecuadorian Football: Former International Shot Dead

Details

A shocking incident has left the Ecuadorian football community in mourning as former international footballer Mario Pineida, 33, was shot dead in a horror shooting that also claimed the lives of one other person and left another wounded. The incident occurred in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Wednesday.

Background

Mario Pineida, a full-back who played for Ecuador nine times between 2014 and 2021, was killed outside a shop in the north of Guayaquil. The attackers, who arrived on motorbikes, opened fire on Pineida, his mother, and another woman. The Ecuadorian Interior Ministry confirmed Pineida’s death without providing further details.

Reaction and Context

Barcelona de Guayaquil, the club where Pineida played, expressed their sadness over his death. Ecuador is experiencing its most violent year on record, with over 9,000 homicides, according to the Ecuadorian Observatory of Organized Crime. President Daniel Noboa has pledged to fight against criminal organizations that have expanded their operations in Ecuadorian territory.

Previous Incidents

This is not the first incident involving footballers in Ecuador. In November, a 16-year-old footballer from Independiente del Valle died from a stray bullet in Guayaquil. Two months earlier, three players from Exapromo Costa and 22 de Junio died from gunshot wounds.

Career Highlights

Pineida started his professional career at Independiente del Valle, where he played from 2010 to 2015. He then moved to the club of the coastal city of Guayaquil in 2016 and won two league titles there. The defender also had a brief spell at Brazil’s Fluminense in 2022.

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