Ecuador Defender Mario Pineida Killed in Shooting

Ecuador Defender Mario Pineida Killed in Shooting

Ecuador defender Mario Pineida has died at the age of 33 after being shot in Guayaquil. Local media reported that Pineida was shot on Wednesday by two people on motorbikes who opened fire on him, his mother, and another woman outside a shop in the north of the city.

Ecuador’s interior ministry said it has sent a special police unit to investigate the incident.

Rising Violence in Guayaquil

Guayaquil has become a hotspot for gang violence and drug trafficking, with 1,900 murders recorded between January and September the highest in Ecuador. This incident follows a series of violent attacks on footballers in the region. Three second-tier footballers were killed in September, and a local player was wounded in a shooting in October.

Pineida’s Career and Tributes

Pineida won nine caps for Ecuador between 2014 and 2021. He began his club career at Independiente DV before moving to Barcelona SC in Guayaquil in 2016. He also spent time on loan at Fluminense and El Nacional.

Following the news of his death, Independiente and Fluminense paid tribute to Pineida on social media. Barcelona SC expressed their deep dismay, stating, “This unfortunate news makes all of us who are part of this institution deeply dismayed.”

The Ecuadorian Football Federation condemned the violence and passed on condolences to Pineida’s family.

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