Mexico’s national team was facing fresh controversy on Wednesday over claims several footballers partied with prostitutes after a friendly against Scotland less than two weeks before their first World Cup match.
Eight members of Mexico’s Copa America squad were dropped in 2011 over allegations they were visited by escorts in a team hotel.
Several players have been implicated in new claims involving hookers by Mexican media.
Mexico are facing claims some players partied with prostitutes after beating Scotland
Giovani Dos Santos, who scored in the 1-0 victory, is among the players accused
His brother Jonathan, sent home from 2011 Copa America for a prostitution scandal, is named
Mexican magazine TV Notas said the bad behaviour occurred when the footballers were given the night off after Saturday’s 1-0 home win against Scotland thanks to an early goal by former Spurs striker Giovanni dos Santos.
The magazine, referring to the Mexican squad by their nickname El Tri, claimed the stars celebrated with a no-holds-barred party lasting more than a day in a report titled: ‘Thirty VIP escorts gave the TRI their real World Cup send-off with a 24-hour lock-in.’
It said the party had taken place at a house in an upmarket neighbourhood in Mexico City called Las Lomas de Chapultepec which started after Saturday’s match against Scotland at the Azteca Stadium and went on till 4pm on Sunday.
Keeper Guillermo Ochoa is accused of taking part in the party shortly before the World Cup
The magazine, whose report was widely echoed by Mexican and south American media, quoted a source as saying: ‘They arrived at the house in Las Lomas around 10.30pm on Saturday and had a great time with music, drinks, games and women. They had the night off, without their wives and girlfriends.’
The unidentified insider, asked why their partners had not been at the party, told TV Notas: ‘Because they wanted to be a bit naughty. Why else would they have needed 30 escorts!’
The magazine said its source had told them the players at the party included goalie Guillermo Ochoa, defender Carlos Salcedo, midfielder Marco Fabian, and former Spurs player Giovanni dos Santos who is currently with LA Galaxy, as well as his brother Jonathan.
Mexico are due to play Denmark in a last friendly on Saturday before jetting to Russia where they meet Germany in their first World Cup game on June 17. El Tri have made it out of the group stage in every World Cup it has participated in since 1986.
Jonathan dos Santos apologised after becoming one of eight players dropped from Mexico’s Copa America squad in 2011 following his involvement in that year’s prostitution scandal.
The Mexico players, including Carlos Salcedo, are said to have partied for over 24 hours
He said after it was discovered hookers had been invited into the team’s pre-cup base in Ecuador capital Quito: ‘I’m here to face the music. I have committed misconduct. I am very sorry for what I did and I apologize to the team, my teammates, the entire coaching staff and people of Mexico. I’m here and I assume responsibility.’
The young midfielder, who was at Barcelona at the time, added: ‘I have to apologize to my club, and to my family. I have a very clean record – nine years at the club and there has never been any problem with me.’
Local reports at the time said the players had been fined and suspended from national duty for six months.
Scotland manager Alex McLeish described his team’s match against Mexico at the weekend as an ‘amazing experience’ and said he was ‘proud of every single one of the players.’ There is no suggestion any of his squad were at the party.
Midfielder Marco Fabian was also named. The Mexico FA have not yet commented.
Overnight the Mexican Football Federation FEMEXFUT made its first official comments and appeared to indicate no disciplinary action would be taken over the party.
FEMEXFUT Secretary General Guillermo Cantu, asked if there would be any punishment for the players who appear in the photos published by TV Notas, told reporters: ‘These are the risks freedom has and we’re not going to change that.’
He added: ‘A day off is a day off. They’re the risks you have with freedom. It’s not whether we like it or not. We’re just got to be clear that it’s a day off and they haven’t missed training or a team get-together.
‘The issue of values is a separate matter. I’m not going to condemn the players. The issue of freedom is a complex one of course but it’s a personal, free decision as to how they spend their free time.’
Social media users expressed outrage over his comments. One football fan wrote: ‘The girlfriends and wives will make sure they’re punished.’