December 11 – Honduran international Arnold Peralta was tragically shot dead in a parking lot on Thursday by unknown assailants while on holiday in his hometown.
The 26-year-old Olimpia midfielder, who used to play for Glasgow Rangers, was attacked in the port city of La Ceiba. The motive was unclear though Honduras is plagued by gang violence and has one of the highest murder rates in the world.
Osman Madrid, director of the Honduran football federation, said it was a “tragic death that the national sport mourns”.
Police have ruled out robbery as a possible motive because nothing was taken from Peralta who was gunned down next to his car but the shooting occurred in a region where drug cartels operate.
Peralta, who played for Rangers 24 times, represented Honduras at the 2012 Olympic Games in London but was ruled out of the 2014 Brazil World Cup squad through injury. He had been due to play for the national team in a friendly against Cuba next week.
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