The referee, identified as Javier Ortega, 48 years old, was shot during the match as attackers stormed the field. The shooting happened on the pitch in Pasaje, El Oro Province, Ecuador, leading to immediate chaos. Eyewitnesses report that unidentified gunmen approached during the match and opened fire at the referee, causing him to collapse in front of players and onlookers. The perpetrators then fled the sports ground, leaving the scene in disarray. Paramedics rushed to the scene but were unable to save Ortega, who was pronounced dead at the venue. The match was immediately abandoned as crowds scrambled for safety.
A police investigation is ongoing, with no arrests made so far. The motive for the shooting and the identities of the attackers are still unknown, leaving key questions unanswered about the perpetrators and their intentions.
Refereeing organizations have voiced outrage over the killing and demanded tighter security measures at grassroots fixtures. The killing has highlighted growing concerns over violence encroaching upon amateur football in Ecuador.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of Ecuador's dramatic spike in gang violence over the past five years, allegedly fueled by ties to Mexican and Colombian cartels. Tough measures introduced by President Daniel Noboa have so far proved largely ineffective in curbing the violence, as murders and violent incidents in residential areas and public spaces have become more common.
Broader violence statistics underscore this trend, with Ecuador recording the highest number of violent deaths in its history in 2025, according to the Geneva-based Organised Crime Observatory. The rate reached 51 homicides per 100,000 residents, reflecting a deepening crisis of organized crime and insecurity in the nation. The Observatory's data indicates this marks a significant escalation from previous years, with the homicide rate more than doubling since 2020.