The remarkable story of how ex-Newcastle hero Faustino Asprilla called OFF a gangland hit on a fellow footballer
![10 May 1997: Faustino Asprilla of Newcastle celebrates a goal during the FA Carling Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at St James Park in Newcastle, England. Newcastle won 5-0. \ Mandatory Credit: Alex Livesey /Allsport](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/image/onecms:4484a60a-debc-43cd-9906-519577690bf9:aeb1e5e8-524a-4966-ad08-3e2434d52de8/image.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![10 May 1997: Faustino Asprilla of Newcastle celebrates a goal during the FA Carling Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at St James Park in Newcastle, England. Newcastle won 5-0. \ Mandatory Credit: Alex Livesey /Allsport](/img/placeholder.png)
The incident – which took place a year after Asprilla signed for United from Parma – revolves around Chilavert and the frontman both being sent off in a World Cup qualifier in Asuncion.
And Asprilla, part of Kevin Keegan’s side nicknamed ‘The Entertainers’, has revealed a gunman phoned his hotel room after said game, asking for permission to kill Chilavert.
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Hide AdSpeaking on a documentary on Colombian TV, Asprilla said: “What? Are you crazy? You’ll destroy Colombian football, you can’t do that!
![ASUNCION, PARAGUAY: Paraguayan goalie Jose Luis Chilavert celebrates the first goal scored by his team during a Japan-Korea 2002 World Cup qualification match against Peru, 15 November 2000, at the Defensores del Chaco Stadium in Asuncion. AFP PHOTO / Daniel GARCIA (Photo credit should read DANIEL GARCIA/AFP via Getty Images)](/jp-ct.co.uk/image/onecms:84b1ded5-1251-4f84-858f-e14034805a42:edb60b8d-5a9f-4d53-9f97-21f07a31f00b/image.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![ASUNCION, PARAGUAY: Paraguayan goalie Jose Luis Chilavert celebrates the first goal scored by his team during a Japan-Korea 2002 World Cup qualification match against Peru, 15 November 2000, at the Defensores del Chaco Stadium in Asuncion. AFP PHOTO / Daniel GARCIA (Photo credit should read DANIEL GARCIA/AFP via Getty Images)](/img/placeholder.png)
“No, no, no, no. What happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch.”
This incident came just three years after fellow Colombian international Andres Escobar was shot dead, in what was widely regarded as a gangland execution, weeks after an own goal in USA 1994 saw Colombia exit the World Cup.