The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) has imposed a six-year ban on a player from Mazatlán FC. This suspension stems from the player’s involvement in match-fixing activities. The affected team, Mazatlán FC’s women’s squad, finished the initial phase of the Women’s Clausura Tournament in 16th place, two positions above the bottom of the standings. Despite the disciplinary action, the club has opted not to reveal the identity of the suspended athlete.
The FMF’s decision was based on an investigation conducted in accordance with the Mexican Federation’s Code of Ethics. According to a statement from the FMF, “The FMF conducted a detailed investigation into the possible manipulation of matches” by a group of athletes. The federation stated that the decision was reached “after analyzing the evidence and granting a hearing to those involved.”
In reaching its determination, the Disciplinary Committee referenced the Federation’s Sanctions Regulations, the FIFA Code of Ethics, and the FMF Code of Ethics. Consequently, the player has been suspended for six years from all professional football-related activities, encompassing sporting, administrative, and representative roles. The federation also indicated that it will forward details of the case to FIFA and emphasized its commitment to “continue to analyze and investigate cases, such as those mentioned above, that violate FIFA and FMF regulations and that put the integrity of the competitions at risk.”
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Mazatlán FC’s women’s team addressed the situation through a social media post. Their statement indicated that the club “recognizes and supports the sanction imposed by the Disciplinary Commission of the Mexican Football Federation.” The team concluded its message by stating, “With this stance, the institution reiterates its commitment to society and Mexican football to preserve the values of the sport and promote fair play, on and off the field.”
For context, the longest sentence handed down to players in the Operation Maximum Penalty case by the MP-GO in 2023 was two years. Earlier in February, the Mexican Federation had already sanctioned eight players for match-fixing related to sports betting in first and second division matches. In April, three additional players were suspended, though their penalties were less severe, ranging from two to three years and prohibiting them from any football-related activity in Mexico during that period. Mexican Match-Fixing
