Soccer Legend Attacked By Gang In His Home

Faustino Asprilla, a soccer legend who played in the English Premier League and Serie A, has been talking about how he was threatened by a gang who broke into his home.

The former Newcastle United and Parma forward, who also played for the Colombian national side, has declared that a gang of masked criminals, carrying weapons, entered his home in Tuluá, Colombia.

They then demanded money, and proclaimed that they would kill Asprilla and his family if he didn’t give them what they wanted. Asprilla has now revealed that he has decided to leave Tuluá because he simply doesn’t feel safe in the area anymore.

“They threatened me,” the 45-year-old explained. “They told me to contact their chief because if I didn’t they would kill my family and me.”

According to the Guardian, Asprilla also went on to declare just how heart-broken he was over having to reach this decision. He explained via a statement on his official website that he felt “helpless” and was “hurting” because he had been forced to leave his home town “by the back door.”

“Today is one of the saddest days of my life. I had to leave my own land, Tuluá, as a victim of extortion by a group of anti-socials. My family was threatened in front of me, my father, my sisters. Helpless and hurting, I took the decision for the safety of my loved ones to leave Tuluá.”

Asprilla also talked about how he has gone to great lengths to try and impress and entertain the population of Colombia through his soccer skills.

“I dedicated my life to representing my country abroad, to bringing joy to my Colombian people, when I could finally rest, to recover the time lost with my [family], I’m forced to leave by the back door of my own town.”

Asprilla was regarded as one of the most extravagant soccer players of the 1990s. Not only did he win 57 caps while playing for Colombia, but he also became a huge star at Newcastle United, too. Asprilla was signed by Kevin Keegan from Serie A side, Parma, where he won the Uefa Cup twice as well as the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

His most heroic night in a Newcastle shirt came in the Champions League at St James’ Park. Asprilla inspired Newcastle to a 3-2 victory over Barcelona and he scored a hat-trick in just 22 minutes to lead the Magpies to this iconic victory.

[Image via Star Media]