Fake Colombian basketball team dupes Russia in friendly match

Russian organisers were tricked by a phoney Colombian squad, resulting in legal action and a suspended tournament

A bizarre situation unfolded in Perm, Russia, during an international basketball tournament when a fictitious Colombian team tricked organisers and played in the event, recently, according to marca.com. This surreal incident, which could be the plot of a fictional film, turned out to be a real-life deception.

Due to international sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been unable to participate in international basketball matches. To compensate, the country organised a friendly tournament featuring the Russian national team, Parma BC from Perm, and the national teams of Venezuela and Colombia. However, the supposed Colombian team’s performance raised suspicions from the start. In their opening match, the team was routed 41-2 in the first quarter and ultimately lost 155-53 to the Russian side. The second game saw a similar outcome, with Venezuela defeating the Colombians 107-58. The poor showings led to the suspension of the tournament.

The Colombian Basketball Federation soon issued a statement clarifying that the team was not officially recognised by them and had no association with their organisation. They announced plans to take legal action for the misuse of their image, logo, and national flag.

Andrei Kirilenko, president of the Russian Basketball Federation and former NBA player, responded by stating that all interactions with the Colombian team had been conducted through official channels. Kirilenko assured that their communications and coordination had been handled through verified sources.

The deception was orchestrated by Christian David Mosquera Duran, a Colombian residing in Russia, who appeared as player number 6 in the team photo. Mosquera Duran managed to hack the Colombian federation's email account and deceive the Russian organisers, who failed to verify the players' identities. Additionally, Mosquera Duran secured plane tickets and four-star hotel accommodation for his friends, who were posing as the Colombian team. The bogus squad, made up of players from the third division of 3x3 basketball in Kazan, showcased their lack of skill through their poor performance.