Suspected leftist rebels kidnapped a Colombian soccer official less than two weeks before the war-torn Andean nation is scheduled to hold the Copa America soccer tournament.
Mr Hernan Mejia Campuzano, vice-president of the Colombian Soccer Federation, was snatched yesterday by armed men as he drove between the central coffee-growing province of Risaralda and Choco Province on the Pacific Coast, police said.
State security forces attributed the kidnapping to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Colombia's largest Marxist rebel group. It was not immediately possible to independently confirm that version.
Colombia is set to host Copa America - South America's biggest soccer tournament and the world's oldest soccer tournament - from July 11th-29th.
Colombia's suitability as a safe venue was plunged into doubt last month after a rash of bombings in the cities of Bogota, Cali and Medellin - all of which will host matches - killed 12 people and injured around 200.
Colombia is gripped by a 37-year war pitting leftist rebels, outlawed right-wing militias and the armed forces which has killed 40,000 civilians in the last decade. Colombia is also the kidnap capital of the world, with nearly 3,700 kidnappings reported last year.