Diego Mendieta (13 June 1980 – 3 December 2012) was a Paraguayan professional footballer who played as a forward. His death on 3 December 2012 reportedly caused by cytomegalovirus, an easily treatable disease,[1] sparked international outrage after it was made known that his club refused to pay his hospital fees, thus resulting in his demise. The club also owed Mendieta an estimated US$12,500 in salaries which had prevented him from returning to his native Paraguay.[2] The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro), a worldwide representative organisation for professional football players, dubbed his death as a "disgrace for football".
![]() Mendieta during his playing days | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Diego Antonio Mendieta Romero | ||
Date of birth | 13 June 1980 | ||
Place of birth | Asunción, Paraguay | ||
Date of death | 3 December 2012 | (aged 32)||
Place of death | Surakarta, Indonesia | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
Johor Darul Ta'zim | |||
2009–2010 | Persitara North Jakarta | 14 | (3) |
2011–2012 | Persis Solo | (8) | |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
References
edit- ^ "Footballer Diego Mendieta's death prompts Indonesia row". BBC. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
- ^ Masters, James (6 December 2012). "The lonely death of Diego Mendieta: Football's forgotten man". CNN. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
External links
edit- Diego Mendieta at Soccerway