The victim has been identified as 48-year-old Javier Ortega, and the attack occurred on Sunday in front of dozens of people watching a match in the city of Pasaje in Ecuador's coastal province of El Oro. Witnesses said several unidentified armed individuals approached the referee during the match before opening fire. The killers then fled the scene. Ortega was a well-known local referee who was officiating an amateur match and was pronounced dead at the scene despite the rapid arrival of emergency services. Football referee is shot dead in front of players and spectators mid-match after attackers stormed the pitch in shocking moment https://t.co/fUQHtYzEUN The organizing club has suspended future matches until the circumstances of the incident are clarified, while members of the victim's family were reportedly also at the scene and are demanding a swift investigation. Authorities have meanwhile opened a police investigation, and the incident is considered a targeted killing. A football official paid tribute to the victim, and The Sun quoted him. "Javier was a dedicated official, losing his life over a football match is unacceptable," he stated. The Sun also quoted police who stated they are "currently reviewing mobile phone footage." "We are questioning witnesses to identify the perpetrators. This is a cold-blooded crime committed in a space intended for community and sport," they reportedly said. This latest episode of violence has raised concerns about safety at community sporting events in Ecuador. Last month, the Ecuadorian government deployed more than 75,000 police officers and soldiers across four of the country's most violent provinces, according to the interior minister. Among them was El Oro, where this latest incident occurred. Since taking office in November 2023, President Daniel Noboa has sought to aggressively combat criminal organizations in his country and has declared several states of emergency, yet despite this, the homicide rate remains at a record high and has increased by more than 30 percent between 2024 and 2025. In 2025, 9,216 cases were recorded, compared to 7,063 in 2024.