Former El Salvador international footballer Pacheco shot dead

Two friends who were travelling with the 33-year-old were hurt in the attack which took place in Santa Ana, 66km west of the capital San Salvador, the police spokesman added.

"The former international was killed by a group of unknown assailants as he left a petrol station with friends," said the official.

Pacheco, who made 86 appearances for El Salvador, was banned for life in September 2013 for his role in a match-fixing scandal between 2010 and 2012.

Thirteen of his teammates in the national squad were also kicked out of the game.

El Salvador has been plagued by gang violence in recent years with more than 6,000 murders reported between January and November, almost the double the recorded figure for the same period in 2014, according to a national watchdog, IML.