Thread by @brfootball

A look into Pablo Escobar’s star-studded prison matches in ‘La Catedral’ 😳 [THREAD]

Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar was a huge fan of football, and it was a well-known secret he ran Atletico Nacional, his hometown club in Medellin. He gave future Colombia internationals, including Chicho Serna and Rene Higuita, a shot at a career.

In 1991, Escobar surrendered to authorities and struck a deal with Colombian President Cesar Gaviria: no extradition to the U.S. in return for five years in Colombian prison—a prison he designed and staffed himself named ‘La Catedral.’

At the heart of La Catedral was a hard-court football pitch with a small five-a-side goals. Escobar frequently staged games involving pretty much the entire Colombian squad, and they were paid generously for attending.

In 1991, Diego Maradona visited La Catedral after he received a 15-month ban for failing a drug test at Napoli. Escobar was a longtime fan of the Argentine.

Escobar offered Maradona an enormous appearance fee to play alongside Higuita. Maradona claimed he did not know who ‘El Patron’ was when he met him, but he played in the match, and after, they partied together through the night.

Maradona on his visit to Pablo Escobar's prison.

Orlando City manager Oscar Pareja recalls being invited along with six Independiente teammates to La Catedral, an invitation he could not refuse. Escobar treated him as a god, and after meeting with him, they played a match together.

Oscar Pareja on his experience visiting 'La Catedral'.

These football matches came to an end after murders were committed in La Catedral. There were rumors that Escobar executed rivals, which gave the football court a stained red color. He escaped his prison, which eventually led to him being shot and killed by the police.