Alejandro Bedoya: MLS star scores goal and celebrates by telling Congress to ‘end gun violence now’

Bedoya, a USA international, ran to an on-field microphone after scoring his team’s first goal and shouted to the crowd: ‘Hey Congress, do something now! End gun violence! Let’s go!’

Philadelphia Union captain Alejandro Bedoya made a statement about gun violence by calling out Congress after scoring for his team in Washington DC on Sunday evening.

Bedoya, a USA international, scored his team’s opening goal in their 5-1 win over DC United. After he scored, Bedoya ran to an on-field microphone and shouted to the crowd: “Hey Congress, do something now! End gun violence! Let's go!”

His comments could be clearly heard on Fox Sports’ coverage of the game.

Two mass shootings in the United States this weekend left at least 29 people dead and injured dozens. Police in El Paso, Texas confirmed that a massacre at a Walmart superstore on Saturday left at least 20 people dead. Just 13 hours later, a gunman in Dayton, Ohio killed nine people.

The 32-year-old had earlier tweeted about the recent gun violence in Texas and Ohio.

“Seeing more thoughts and prayers bullshit,” he wrote on Twitter. “Words without actions are just worthless. America, it seems, is becoming a dystopian society.”

Asked how he would tackle gun violence by another user on Twitter, he added: “We can start with stricter background checks, red flag laws, making a registry for gun purchases, closing gun show loopholes, and taxing ammunition.”

There have now been 31 mass shootings in America this year.