World Cup 2010 Blog: Party Hardy: Carlos Vela and Efrain Juarez banned for 6 months by Mexico FA

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Party Hardy: Carlos Vela and Efrain Juarez banned for 6 months by Mexico FA Posted: 21 Sep 2010 03:45 PM PDT Carlos Vela (Arsenal) and Efrain Juarez (Celtic) are banned from the Mexico National Team for 6 months following their role in organizing a party for the team earlier this month. A few weeks ago,media outlets reported that the Mexico National Team was being investigated for their celebrations after their recent international game against Colombia.  The party took place at the players hotel after Mexico’s first victory (2-1) since the team returned from South Africa’s World Cup this summer.  Nestor de la Torre, the National Director of the Mexican Football Association, announced this week that the team will be punished for violating the team’s code of conduct with Carlos Vela and Efrain Juarez being handed the most serious punishments in the group.  Both players are banned from the national team for 6 months for their role in organizing the party… (Vela and Juarez) will be suspended for six months … due to breaking four articles of the internal regulations of the national team. Eleven other players were fined 50,000 pesos each for their part in the festivities at the team hotel – Giovani dos Santos, Javier Hernandez, Guillermo Ochoa, Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido, Andres Guardado, Gerardo Torrado, Pablo Barrera, Rafael Marquez, Enrique Esqueda and Hector Moreno. Both Vela and Juarez  helped Mexico reach the second round of the World Cup this summer, where they lost to Argentina (arguably under controversial circumstances).  Since then, the team has struggled to win, drawing with Spain (1-1) and losing to Ecuador (2-1).  It is unclear how Vela and Juarez feel about the Federation’s decision, but according to Nestor de la Torre, most of the players accept the punishments… We talked to most of them and there was total acceptance (of the punishments).  There were mistakes committed.  The first step to be able to move forward is to recognize when one has made mistakes. To be clear:  The FA has denied reports by the local media that the party included prostitutes and the decision to punish the players is based on their disregard for the Federation’s rules stipulating players may only receive visitors during certain hours in specified locations. Those are rumors, there were guests, relatives and friends.  We’re talking about facts, not suppositions, and being realistic there were only relatives and friends. The players have denied the allegations in the papers since the beginning with Salcido saying.. If there is a fine to pay, I will accept it. I offer a personal apology, but the papers say we hired 15 prostitutes including a transvestite – and that did not happen. We had a few drinks, but that is as far as it went. Juarez himself stated the party was to celebrate Mexico’s independence (like the rest of the country…) It was a friendly match but the celebration was for Independence Day in Mexico.  It's a big celebration there as it's a big day for the whole country. On a quick note, I under the principle of respecting the rules and wanting to set boundaries with players – but I have a hard time respecting rules “just because.”  Sure, players should not be partying while on duty with the team.  But what’s the harm in celebrating with your family and friends after both games are complete?  Most of the players on this list seem to play abroad – I’m assuming they probably don’t have the chance to return home to see their loved ones in Mexico too often.  Unless this is a chronic problem, the punishment seems a bit harsh to me… Any chance of Vela or Juarez doing an on-field protest (a la Anelka) this year?

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