Colombian Soccer Team Faces 'Treason' Charge over AI Image Linking Players to Conservative President-Elect
Colombian Soccer Team Faces ‘Treason’ Charge over AI Image Linking Players to Conservative President-Elect
A small claims court in Colombia formally accepted a legal action this week against the Colombian national soccer team and two of its most popular players, Luis Díaz and James Rodríguez, in which an individual accuses them of “treason to the nation” in response to the existence of an artificial intelligence (AI) image of the players.
The bizarre situation was first reported on Monday by the Colombian Caracol news agency’s sports vertical, Gol Caracol, described as “a mix of a joke and a serious situation.” An individual identified as Francisco Javier Zuluaga of the capital, Bogotá, filed a tutela against the team and the two players mentioned. A tutela is a legal action in Colombia described as a “fast and simple” way to seek redress as an aggrieved party, typically in small claims court. It is slightly less formal than a lawsuit and sometimes translated as a “conservatorship” though it functions more similarly to civil charges against a defendant than the request of a conservatorship over a person in American law.
Gol Caracol confirmed that the tutela was accepted by the 3rd Small Claims Court of Suba, Bogotá, and that a judge has requested from the national soccer team Díaz and Rodríguez’s personal information to process the claim. The two men, along with the rest of the team, are currently in Guadalajara, Mexico, participating in the FIFA World Cup. Reports clarified that the court situation is not expected to interfere with their competing in the tournament in any way.
The Colombian newspaper El Tiempo reported that Zuluaga filed charges against the players for “treason to the nation” and that, while few details are publicly available about the case, it appears to be a response to an AI image showing the two players performing a salute to celebrate a goal that has been associated in the past year with the presidential campaign of conservative lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, who won the Colombian presidential election race on Sunday. De la Espriella regularly appeared at campaign rallies and in campaign literature performing a standard hand salute and supporters of his campaign would also salute as a sign that they backed his bid to be president.
“The unusual case came about as a result of some images, created with artificial intelligence, of the celebration following one of the goals against the Uzbeks that went viral and was related to a gesture that Abelardo de la Espriella popularized during his presidential campaign,” El Tiempo explained.
The newspaper explained that Colombian courts must accept all complaints and formal legal actions, concluding the bureaucratic process by properly filling out the paperwork necessary. That does not necessarily mean, however, that the judge requesting the players’ information believes that the complaint has merit, the way that accepting or dismissing a lawsuit would require such an initial judgment in the United States. Notably, the Colombian outlet observed that none of the limited information publicly available about the complaint specifies any damages sustained by the plaintiff or what redress he expects from the Colombian national soccer team. The lack of specific demand for redress or identification of damages makes the case unlikely to progress in court.
Colombian journalist Carlos Antonio Velez, in a statement shared on social media, stated that he listened to the verbal complaint offered to the court and found it without substance.
“The so-called complaint against the [soccer] Federation… what a shame but the person who made it should visit a specialist… mental health must be protected,” Velez wrote. “Six minutes of a sleep, incoherent rant… the grave this is that a judicial authority exists that validated this.”
De la Espriella celebrated a narrow victory on Sunday against Senator Iván Cepeda, a radical leftist endorsed by incumbent President Gustavo Petro. Petro is the first leftist president in the history of the country and presided over a term defined by his vocal hostilities towards Israel; having his U.S. visa revoked for demanding the American military not follow its commander in chief, President Donald Trump; and being repeatedly accused of drug and alcohol addiction, including by his former foreign minister.
Under Petro, narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking experienced a boom in the country, which had endeavored for decades under conservative presidents to contain the violence caused by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and similar terrorist organizations. De la Espriella became the frontrunner in the presidential race in a race in which the previous frontrunner, conservative Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, was murdered by a terror-linked child in June 2025.
De la Espriella ran a campaign in which he promised to prioritize law and order, empower police and the military to fight drug gangs and narco-terrorists, and promote family-centric policies. He regularly appeared in campaign publicity wearing the Colombian soccer jersey.
While most players on the national soccer team did not endorse a candidate, their appearance alongside Petro during a ceremony to say goodbye to them as they traveled to the World Cup in early June raised eyebrows, as many noticed the players “uncomfortable” and gloomy when forced to engage Petro. Leftist politicians in the country condemned the team for seeming unenthusiastic about Petro. Rodríguez, in particular, was the subject of controversy as a video allegedly showed Petro’s daughter Antonella requesting a photo with him during an official handshake ceremony and the soccer captain not responding. Rodríguez later did appear in a group photo with Antonella Petro, her father, and the rest of the team.
Colombia will play its second World Cup match on Tuesday night against the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
