Former River Plate player and Colombian national team: Teófilo Gutiérrez accused of threatening a loan shark

Renowned Barranquilla soccer player Teófilo Antonio Gutiérrez Roncancio, known as "Teo," is once again at the center of controversy. This time, he faces a complaint filed with the Attorney General's Office by Gastón Santo Marriaga González, who accuses him of threatening to kill him amid a dispute over a multi-million-dollar debt.

According to the complainant, in February 2024, he loaned Gutiérrez 180 million pesos (approximately $45,000), under a verbal agreement that included monthly interest payments. These payments were made regularly until April 2025, when they were suspended.

The situation escalated on August 12, 2025, during a meeting called to settle outstanding accounts. According to Marriaga, the footballer refused to pay the four months' worth of overdue interest and, in the midst of the argument, uttered intimidating remarks that made him fear for his life.

The complainant claims that Teófilo told him to "do whatever he wanted" and intimidated him by saying, "One day they'd find me with my mouth full of flies." The forward later left the premises accompanied by a bodyguard.

In his complaint, Marriaga expressed a well-founded fear for his safety and held the player directly responsible for any situation that could threaten his life. As support, he provided authorities with voice notes, chat captures, a bill of exchange, and claimed to have witnesses who were present at the meeting.

This latest judicial episode adds to a long list of controversies in Gutiérrez's career:

2012 – Racing de Avellaneda (Argentina): After losing a derby against Independiente, he started a fight in the locker room and even brandished an airsoft gun, leading to his immediate departure from the club.

2017 – Junior de Barranquilla: He was embroiled in a scandal over alleged messages sent to the wife of his then-teammate Roberto Ovelar, which generated an internal conflict that led to the Paraguayan forward's departure.

2023 – Deportes Tolima: A logistics worker reported him for inappropriate touching during a match. The case was closed after an out-of-court settlement, but it further damaged his public image.

He has also had abrupt departures from clubs such as Trabzonspor (Turkey), Lanús (Argentina), Cruz Azul (Mexico), and River Plate (Argentina), almost always linked to disciplinary or contractual issues.

With this complaint, Teófilo Gutiérrez, an iconic figure in Barranquilla football, faces a new challenge off the pitch that could have legal consequences. The Prosecutor's Office must evaluate the evidence presented by Marriaga and determine whether a formal investigation into the forward is warranted.