Crime deterring return of South American football stars
In recent months, the sport has been rattled by threats against the family of Argentine forward Angel Di Maria, the kidnapping in Colombia of Luis Diaz's father, and the blackmailing of Peruvian striker Paolo Guerrero's mother in a region of the world ravaged by drug trafficking and gang violence.
"These type of violent actions directly threaten the economy and sports success of the clubs," Argentine club Rosario Central has said of the threats against Di Maria, who opted to remain in Portugal.
In March, family members of Di Maria received a note threatening their lives if he returned home to play for any club in the city of Rosario - Argentina's third largest city that has recently seen an explosion in drug-related crime. The 36-year-old winger for Benfica in Portugal, had earlier stated his desire to play once more for his boyhood club, Rosario Central, and win a Copa Libertadores before he retires.
Argentine authorities said at the time the note contained a threat from "criminal organizations" putting on a show of strength. The footballer has not spoken about the incident in public, but an Argentine sports TV channel cited sources close to Di Maria saying he had ruled out a return to "prioritize the safety and health of his family." Di Maria is now reportedly in talks to pursue a career in Major League Soccer.
Also in Rosario, gunmen opened fire last year on a shop belonging to the family of World Cup-winning Argentine captain Lionel Messi's wife. They left a threatening message for the footballer in what was also interpreted as gangs flexing their muscle. Further north, in gang violence-torn Ecuador, 34-year-old forward Enner Valencia has recently abandoned plans for a return to home team Emelec from Brazil, where he
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