Luis Moreno (Panama)
Encyclopedia
Luis Moreno is a football defender who plays for Tauro
. He gained notoriety after kicking a stunned owl during a league match between Junior de Barranquilla and Deportivo Pereira
that later died due to the incident.
, Moreno began playing football with local side Deportivo Italia. He was signed by first division club Tauro F.C.
in 2001. He had a brief spell with Colombian side Envigado Fútbol Club
during 2005 and 2006, before returning to Tauro. Peruvian side Universitario de Deportes
attempted to sign him in 2006, but he stayed with Tauro.
In January 2007, Moreno returned to the Colombian league, joining Independiente Santa Fe
. The club terminated his contract in May 2007, after a disciplinary incident. He returned to Tauro, but shortly after joined Mexican Primera División A
side Tiburones Rojos de Coatzacoalcos
.
in 2001. He has been a key member of the side, participating in the 2005, 2007 and 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
finals.
, Junior's unofficial mascot owl landed on the field during play and was struck by a pass. As the owl lay stunned on the field, Moreno, from the opposing team, kicked it approximately 3 meters (~10 feet) to the touchline. Shortly after, he claimed he was prompting it to fly away but in a later interview he admitted "The kick was a product of tension on the field at the time." The owl was treated for its injuries at a local veterinary clinic, but later died of stress related to the incident. Moreno received a two-match ban and a $560 fine from Colombian football's governing body and has been the target of insults and threats.
Tauro F.C.
Tauro Fútbol Club is a professional football club located in Panama City, Panama that plays in Liga Panameña de Fútbol, the top Panamanian football league. Tauro has won seven Liga Profesional de Fútbol Championships since 1988, the highest total of any team. The club has also finished second seven...
. He gained notoriety after kicking a stunned owl during a league match between Junior de Barranquilla and Deportivo Pereira
Deportivo Pereira
Deportivo Pereira is a professional soccer team of the Colombian city of Pereira. Founded in 1944, its traditional colors are red and yellow. It plays in the Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas.-History:...
that later died due to the incident.
Club career
Born in Panama CityPanama City
Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
, Moreno began playing football with local side Deportivo Italia. He was signed by first division club Tauro F.C.
Tauro F.C.
Tauro Fútbol Club is a professional football club located in Panama City, Panama that plays in Liga Panameña de Fútbol, the top Panamanian football league. Tauro has won seven Liga Profesional de Fútbol Championships since 1988, the highest total of any team. The club has also finished second seven...
in 2001. He had a brief spell with Colombian side Envigado Fútbol Club
Envigado Fútbol Club
Envigado Fútbol Club is a Colombian football club based in the metropolitan Medellín of Envigado. The club was founded October 14, 1989 and plays its home games at the Estadio Polideportivo Sur stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 12,000 seats....
during 2005 and 2006, before returning to Tauro. Peruvian side Universitario de Deportes
Universitario de Deportes
Club Universitario de Deportes, also known as Universitario, or more popularly as [La] "U", is a Peruvian football club located in Lima. It is the most successful football club in Peru. The club was founded in 1924 under the name Federación Universitaria by students of the National University of...
attempted to sign him in 2006, but he stayed with Tauro.
In January 2007, Moreno returned to the Colombian league, joining Independiente Santa Fe
Independiente Santa Fe
Independiente Santafe is a professional Colombian First Division football club based in Bogotá. It has won six First Division titles and two Copa Colombia titles....
. The club terminated his contract in May 2007, after a disciplinary incident. He returned to Tauro, but shortly after joined Mexican Primera División A
Liga de Ascenso
The Liga de Ascenso is the second professional level of the Mexican football league system. The champion of the competition is promoted to the Primera División de México ....
side Tiburones Rojos de Coatzacoalcos
Tiburones Rojos de Coatzacoalcos
The club Tiburones Rojos Coatzacoalcos, was a football team of the city of Coatzacoalcos, playing in the Primera 'A' Mexican. The team was moved in December 2008, relocating to Orizaba to become the Albinegros....
.
International career
Moreno made his debut for the Panama national football teamPanama national football team
The Panama national football team is the national team of Panama and is controlled by the Panamanian Football Federation. Panama reached the 2006 World Cup CONCACAF Final Round in the qualifiers and finished as runners-up at the final game of the 2005 Gold Cup...
in 2001. He has been a key member of the side, participating in the 2005, 2007 and 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
CONCACAF Gold Cup
The CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF, determining the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.The Gold Cup is held every two years and when it does not fall the same year as an...
finals.
Owl kicking incident
During a February 2011 league match between Junior de Barranquilla and Deportivo PereiraDeportivo Pereira
Deportivo Pereira is a professional soccer team of the Colombian city of Pereira. Founded in 1944, its traditional colors are red and yellow. It plays in the Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas.-History:...
, Junior's unofficial mascot owl landed on the field during play and was struck by a pass. As the owl lay stunned on the field, Moreno, from the opposing team, kicked it approximately 3 meters (~10 feet) to the touchline. Shortly after, he claimed he was prompting it to fly away but in a later interview he admitted "The kick was a product of tension on the field at the time." The owl was treated for its injuries at a local veterinary clinic, but later died of stress related to the incident. Moreno received a two-match ban and a $560 fine from Colombian football's governing body and has been the target of insults and threats.