Authorities in Colombia have opened an investigation into an alleged death threat received by Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez and his mother.
James' mother, Pilar Rubio, posted on Twitter a photo of a box with a gun and bullets, along with a message saying that her son had been targeted by another user, who had also sent a gun and bullets to him along with a number of threatening messages.
The threats have been taken seriously by the Colombian national prosecution service, with General Luis Alberto Perez, director of the country's Cuerpo Tecnico de Investigacion, telling a news conference that an official investigation had begun.
"The national prosecution service has opened an investigation into the threats which James Rodriguez received via the cellphone of one of his family members," said Perez, who has asked the family to provide evidence so that the location of the sender of the messages can be established.
Under Colombian law, a jail sentence of four to eight years can be imposed for such offences. Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana has also suffered similar threats, the news conference heard.
James had travelled to South America to join up with the Colombia national team during the recent international break, however, a calf muscle injury means he returned to Madrid without featuring in any games.
Colombia coach Jose Nestor Pekerman has again defended the decision for James to make the journey, saying that everything had been done in accordance with FIFA rules and in agreement with Madrid.
"[James] did what all players do during the international break," Pekerman is quoted as saying by AS. "He had a fitness issue, the club looked at it, the club authorised him to travel with his national team. If there had been a serious injury he would not have travelled, and Real Madrid let him travel.
"I want to point out the commitment of James, just like all the Colombian players. They know that with the national team the correct decisions will be taken."