James Rodríguez has found himself at the center of a scandal over an incident involving a female fan
James Rodríguez, captain of the Colombian national team and midfielder for Minnesota United, faced criticism during the national team’s send-off for the 2026 World Cup. The soccer player found himself in the spotlight after an incident with a well-known female fan, which sparked discussion and a negative reaction in the media and among fans.
Details of the incident
The soccer player is accused of dismissively ignoring a request for a photo from the president’s daughter on the eve of the team’s departure for the World Cup. The incident occurred during an official event attended by President Gustavo Petro.
In a video that is circulating widely on social media, the 34-year-old former Real Madrid and Monaco player is seen shaking hands with Antonella Petro—the president’s younger daughter, who also plays soccer. However, when the girl, judging by the video, asks, “James, can I take a picture with you?” the experienced midfielder simply turns around and walks away. Although the audio in the recording is somewhat unclear, the player’s behavior has already sparked a strong reaction among the public.
How did fans react?
The footage sparked a veritable wave of hate directed at the soccer player, particularly in the comments under posts on the Colombian national team’s official page. A government official—Heidi Sánchez, a Bogotá City Council member from the ruling Historic Pact party—also harshly commented on the situation.
“James Rodríguez, such a macho man with a little girl, but such a coward and crybaby on the field. You are a father too, and I am sure you would never want your own daughter to experience such a terrible insult,” Sánchez wrote emotionally on social media platform X.
Some Colombians interpreted the behavior of the star player, who has 126 matches and 34 goals for the national team to his credit, as a political move and a display of hostility toward the country’s left-wing president. Rodríguez himself has never previously made political statements or publicly opposed Gustavo Petro.
This was reported by L'Equipe.
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