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. Guayaquil has become a hotspot for gang violence and drug trafficking, with 1,900 murders recorded between January and September - the highest in Ecuador. Three second-tier footballers were killed in September and a local player was wounded in a shooting in October. 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 Fluminese and El Nacional. Independiente and Fluminese paid tribute to Pineida on social media, while Barcelona SC said 'this unfortunate news makes all of us who are part of this institution deeply dismayed'. In a statement, the Ecuadorian Football Federation condemned the violence and passed on condolences to Pineida's family.
Tragic Loss: Ecuadorian Footballer Mario Pineida Shot Dead
Tragic Loss: Ecuadorian Footballer Mario Pineida Shot Dead
Ecuadorian footballer Mario Pineida, aged 33, has been tragically shot dead in Guayaquil amidst ongoing gang violence in the city. His untimely death has raised concerns about safety in the region.
Mario Pineida, a former defender for Ecuador's national football team and Barcelona SC, was killed in a shooting incident in Guayaquil. Two assailants opened fire on him and two others, prompting an investigation by local authorities into the rising gang violence that has plagued the city. Pineida, who earned nine caps for Ecuador between 2014 and 2021, is remembered fondly by his clubs and the national federation, which condemned the violence.
