1 Mar 2011 15:16:00<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n ![\"EPL,Ashley](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/98f02784125102_news.jpg\")
<\/p><\/div>\nEPL,Ashley Cole,Chelsea vs Sunderland<\/p>\n
Related Links<\/h4>\nTeams<\/h4>\nPlayers<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n In light of Ashley Cole<\/a>‘s shooting a work experience student with an air rifle at the Chelsea<\/a> training ground, Goal.com<\/strong> has taken a look back at other gun-related incidents that have affected the world of football.<\/p>\nAndres Escobar<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nDefender Escobar was shot and killed in his hometown of Medellin, Colombia upon returning from the 1994 World Cup.<\/p>\n
Escobar’s own goal against host nation USA may have contributed to his national side being dumped out of the competition, but the 12-bullet ‘punishment’ handed out by the Colombian drug lords who lost money on the team’s group stage exit was far from fitting for the happily engaged 27-year-old. Escobar is still fondly remembered and mourned by fans of former club Atletico Nacional. <\/strong><\/p>\nRene Osei Kofi<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nNot long after signing a contract with Dutch giants Ajax, Kofi was sent on loan to Almere City \u2013 a club that would eventually sack the Ghanaian.<\/p>\n
During a spat with team-mate Christian Ghandu in the dressing room in 2010, Kofi left in a rage before returning from his car with a loaded handgun. The 18-year-old was reportedly talked out of firing upon Ghandu by his fellow players, but he had already done enough damage to effectively end his footballing career.<\/p>\n
Salvador Cabanas<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nShot in the head from point blank range in Mexico City in January 2010, Paraguayan forward Cabanas miraculously survived to tell the tale.<\/p>\n
The cause of the shooting is not fully clear, as the player’s wife claims he was reacting to a robbery while other reports claim the 30-year-old may have been fired upon after taunting drug lord Jose ‘JJ’ Balderas Garza in the bathroom of a club. Cabanas’ short-term memory loss sees him still shy of a full recovery, but the once-prolific goalscorer still strives to play again in the future.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/0982ec9a88230hp2.jpg\")
Saying grace | <\/strong>Cabanas held a press conference to thank those who prayed for him<\/p>\nLuciano Re Cecconi<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nScudetto-winning midfielder Re Cecconi, joined by Lazio team-mate Piero Ghedin, pretended to rob a friend’s jewellery store just outside of Rome in 1977.<\/p>\n
After exclaiming to the shopkeeper that he was being robbed, the proprietor pulled his own gun from behind the counter. While Ghedin put his hands in the air, Re Cecconi kept his in his pocket to keep up the pretence of a weapon, ultimately sealing his fate as the shop owner Bruno Tabocchini opened fire. Re Cecconi’s last words were “it’s a joke” as he died on the shop floor.<\/p>\n
Luis Bolanos<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nIn a more recent incident, LDU Quito midfielder Bolanos was attacked by two assailants outside a shopping centre in Quicentro.<\/p>\n
The Ecuadorian was shot twice, once in the arm and once in the shoulder, but was hospitalised quickly enough after the ordeal to avoid any serious danger befalling the Copa Libertadores winner.<\/p>\n
Fernando Caceres<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nIn November 2009, former Argentina international Caceres was shot in the right eye during an attempted car-jacking in Buenos Aires.<\/p>\n
Another colossally strong-willed South American that managed to survive the ordeal, Caceres’ rehabilitation was stalled by an eight-week drug-induced coma to keep the former defender alive. On December 29, 2009, Caceres awoke to begin his recovery.<\/p>\n
Diego Maradona<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nGenerally El Diego’s antics are heartily welcomed by the hungry press, but in 1994 the Argentine controversy magnet grew tired of the media haranguing him and his personal life, deciding to take matters into his own hands in the form of a compressed-air rifle.<\/p>\n
Maradona received a suspended jail sentence of two years and 10 months for crouching behind a Mercedes and firing upon the journalists who had irritated him so.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/519f0d51102683hp2.jpg\")
Leave me alone! |<\/strong> El Diego just wanted some peace and quiet<\/p>\nJoaquin Bilbao<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nFormer Xerez president Bilbao was with his driver when the latter shot at the door of a brothel in Jerez for reasons that never quite became clear.<\/p>\n
The affair culminated with Bilbao’s resignation as the club president in 2009 with the statement: \u201cI have a completely clear conscience. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be speaking to the media now. This is best for the club and for my family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heidar Kazem<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nWhile fans would often like to wipe the smile off the face of a player who has just scored against their team, shooting and killing the man in question would seem unimaginable.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately this was not so for one fan, who fired upon former Sinjar player Kazem<\/a> after scoring against Buhayra. The Iraqi had just begun his celebration before the enraged fan pulled out a gun and shot him in the head. Kazem died from his wounds on the way to hospital.<\/p>\nTogo national football team<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nWhile driving through the province of Cabinda on the way to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, the Togo national team bus was fired upon<\/a> by a group of separatist terrorists in a tragedy that shook the continent.<\/p>\nThe team bus driver, along with assistant manager Abalo Amelete and media officer Stanislas Ocloo were all killed in the attack<\/a> which left many more injured, including goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale whose career was ended<\/a> by two bullets to the lower back.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/98f02784125102_news-150x150.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/div>\nEPL,Ashley Cole,Chelsea vs Sunderland<\/p>\n
Related Links<\/h4>\nTeams<\/h4>\nPlayers<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Players<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n In light of Ashley Cole<\/a>‘s shooting a work experience student with an air rifle at the Chelsea<\/a> training ground, Goal.com<\/strong> has taken a look back at other gun-related incidents that have affected the world of football.<\/p>\n Andres Escobar<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Defender Escobar was shot and killed in his hometown of Medellin, Colombia upon returning from the 1994 World Cup.<\/p>\n Escobar’s own goal against host nation USA may have contributed to his national side being dumped out of the competition, but the 12-bullet ‘punishment’ handed out by the Colombian drug lords who lost money on the team’s group stage exit was far from fitting for the happily engaged 27-year-old. Escobar is still fondly remembered and mourned by fans of former club Atletico Nacional. <\/strong><\/p>\n Rene Osei Kofi<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Not long after signing a contract with Dutch giants Ajax, Kofi was sent on loan to Almere City \u2013 a club that would eventually sack the Ghanaian.<\/p>\n During a spat with team-mate Christian Ghandu in the dressing room in 2010, Kofi left in a rage before returning from his car with a loaded handgun. The 18-year-old was reportedly talked out of firing upon Ghandu by his fellow players, but he had already done enough damage to effectively end his footballing career.<\/p>\n Salvador Cabanas<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Shot in the head from point blank range in Mexico City in January 2010, Paraguayan forward Cabanas miraculously survived to tell the tale.<\/p>\n The cause of the shooting is not fully clear, as the player’s wife claims he was reacting to a robbery while other reports claim the 30-year-old may have been fired upon after taunting drug lord Jose ‘JJ’ Balderas Garza in the bathroom of a club. Cabanas’ short-term memory loss sees him still shy of a full recovery, but the once-prolific goalscorer still strives to play again in the future.<\/p>\n Luciano Re Cecconi<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Scudetto-winning midfielder Re Cecconi, joined by Lazio team-mate Piero Ghedin, pretended to rob a friend’s jewellery store just outside of Rome in 1977.<\/p>\n After exclaiming to the shopkeeper that he was being robbed, the proprietor pulled his own gun from behind the counter. While Ghedin put his hands in the air, Re Cecconi kept his in his pocket to keep up the pretence of a weapon, ultimately sealing his fate as the shop owner Bruno Tabocchini opened fire. Re Cecconi’s last words were “it’s a joke” as he died on the shop floor.<\/p>\n Luis Bolanos<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In a more recent incident, LDU Quito midfielder Bolanos was attacked by two assailants outside a shopping centre in Quicentro.<\/p>\n The Ecuadorian was shot twice, once in the arm and once in the shoulder, but was hospitalised quickly enough after the ordeal to avoid any serious danger befalling the Copa Libertadores winner.<\/p>\n Fernando Caceres<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In November 2009, former Argentina international Caceres was shot in the right eye during an attempted car-jacking in Buenos Aires.<\/p>\n Another colossally strong-willed South American that managed to survive the ordeal, Caceres’ rehabilitation was stalled by an eight-week drug-induced coma to keep the former defender alive. On December 29, 2009, Caceres awoke to begin his recovery.<\/p>\n Diego Maradona<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Generally El Diego’s antics are heartily welcomed by the hungry press, but in 1994 the Argentine controversy magnet grew tired of the media haranguing him and his personal life, deciding to take matters into his own hands in the form of a compressed-air rifle.<\/p>\n Maradona received a suspended jail sentence of two years and 10 months for crouching behind a Mercedes and firing upon the journalists who had irritated him so.<\/p>\n Joaquin Bilbao<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Former Xerez president Bilbao was with his driver when the latter shot at the door of a brothel in Jerez for reasons that never quite became clear.<\/p>\n The affair culminated with Bilbao’s resignation as the club president in 2009 with the statement: \u201cI have a completely clear conscience. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be speaking to the media now. This is best for the club and for my family.\u201d<\/p>\n Heidar Kazem<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n While fans would often like to wipe the smile off the face of a player who has just scored against their team, shooting and killing the man in question would seem unimaginable.<\/p>\n Unfortunately this was not so for one fan, who fired upon former Sinjar player Kazem<\/a> after scoring against Buhayra. The Iraqi had just begun his celebration before the enraged fan pulled out a gun and shot him in the head. Kazem died from his wounds on the way to hospital.<\/p>\n Togo national football team<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n While driving through the province of Cabinda on the way to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, the Togo national team bus was fired upon<\/a> by a group of separatist terrorists in a tragedy that shook the continent.<\/p>\n The team bus driver, along with assistant manager Abalo Amelete and media officer Stanislas Ocloo were all killed in the attack<\/a> which left many more injured, including goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale whose career was ended<\/a> by two bullets to the lower back.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Saying grace | <\/strong>Cabanas held a press conference to thank those who prayed for him<\/p>\n
Leave me alone! |<\/strong> El Diego just wanted some peace and quiet<\/p>\n<\/p>\n