Real Madrid star James Rodriquez has been the victim of death threats on social media following his withdrawal from Colombia's international squad.
The 25-year-old was forced to pull out of Colombia's upcoming World Cup qualifier with Uruguay due to a calf-injury
But a minority of Colombian supporters were less than understanding of the midfielder's rehab requirements, sending him, and his mother, death threats on Twitter.
A group called 'Legion Holk', instigated by Twitter user @FrekeMan, sent Rodriquez a picture of a 9mm pistol alongside some ammunition, accompanied with the caption: "I am traveling to your house, coming armed. Say goodbye to everything you love #HolkLegion is watching over you.�
As quoted in theMirror,another person wrote:I see tomorrow all these people crying because I killed a mediocre player."
James Rodriguez sent shocking death threat on Twitter https://t.co/5KUzJwRsow pic.twitter.com/wJ3fEhn83k
Pilar Rubio, Rodriguez's mum, reportedly saved the threatening tweets before handing them over to the local police.
She subsequently tweeted:What's the matter with these people, are they mad? They have sent me a message saying that it would be better to see him dead.�
Colombia have had a chequered past with fan to player relations; ex-Colombian international Andres Escobar wasshot dead in 1994 just days after Colombia crashed out of the '94 World Cup.
There are alsoheightenedsecurity concerns in Colombia at present as a result of thefailed peace deal, which saw the nation's biggest rebel group, FARC, agree a deal with the government, only for 50.2% of the public to vote against the proposition.