Mexico fans armed with fireworks, honking car horns and banging drums try to keep England’s stars awake during late-night siege ahead of huge World Cup clash – as security chief in charge of hotel’s ‘ring of steel’ delivers update

Mexican fans gathered outside the England team’s hotel, honking horns, playing loud music and banging drums in an attempt to disrupt the players ahead of their big match in the World Cup round of 16.

Despite a heavy police presence and intermittent showers, fans gathered outside the five-star hotel in Mexico City’s south-western suburbs at around midnight local (7am BST on Sunday morning).

The fans, numbering nearly 50, chanting ‘Mexico, Mexico, Mexico’ slogans, were kept away due to the heavy police presence, which formed steel rings around the complex.

Security forces armed with police shields and helmets easily outnumbered the fans, with nearly 300 police officers participating in the operation.

Although they were noisy, they were kept about 500 meters away from the hotel, making it difficult for the England players to interrupt their sleep, and they were given earplugs as a precaution.

There was a heavy police presence after Mexico’s previous opponents, Ecuador, complained that fans were trying to disrupt their team by throwing fireworks on the eve of the match.

Britain’s security team told exclusively Daily Mail Sports Attempts by Mexican fans to disrupt the Three Lions’ sleep had little or no effect on the team.

Insiders said the team was also given rooms overlooking the street, where Mexican fans gathered to disrupt England’s preparations.

A UK security official rejected claims that the team’s preparations were disrupted. Daily Mail Sports Outside the hotel at midnight local time.

Instead, he insisted that the actors found the whole show fun, not scary, and suggested that they had become well accustomed to it.

Barriers surrounded the hotel in Mexico on Saturday evening, while security personnel lined up along the railings to monitor the growing crowd outside.

Riot police and local authorities eventually intervened and moved approximately 200 fans approximately 300 meters away from the hotel entrance, significantly calming the area.

The British security official, who spent the evening monitoring the situation from outside the hotel, stressed that the noise was initially heard from inside the building but was never particularly loud or problematic.

He said players could no longer hear the commotion from their rooms after fans were pushed into the street.

The official praised the efforts of Mexican officials and said the government, local police and security services had been ‘incredibly helpful’ during his stay in the UK and had done all they could to ensure the team’s preparations remained unaffected.

Police order drum-wielding Mexican fan to move away from UK hotel

Large numbers of fans gathered around the England team hotel and attempted to cause a major disturbance

A UK security official praised the efforts of Mexican authorities, saying the government, local police and security services had been ‘incredibly helpful’

He also insisted that the mentality of the players had not changed despite efforts to create an intimidating atmosphere.

‘They are used to playing for Real Madrid, Barcelona and the biggest clubs in the Premier League,’ he said. ‘This isn’t their first experience with something like this.’

He joked that ‘sometimes the atmosphere at Everton is worse’, adding that some players regularly experience more hostile atmospheres in domestic football.

According to the security official, England’s experienced team took it all in stride and the reception further sharpened their focus ahead of the knockout tie, which takes place at 1am UK time on Monday.

The official also downplayed reports about England’s arrival at the hotel earlier this week, which attracted a large following and received widespread attention on social media.

He described the team’s arrival as ‘very smooth’ and said there was ‘nothing remarkable’ from the perspective of those responsible for security and that it was just a bit of ‘fun’.

He added that members of England’s traveling party were later surprised by the amount of media attention because they did not see the scenes as anything out of the ordinary.

These scenes were an echo of what happened earlier this week in Ecuador’s last-32 match against Mexico.

After fans were escorted down the street, England players could no longer hear the commotion from their rooms.

The official downplayed reports about England’s arrival at the hotel earlier this week, insisting the process was “very smooth” and “nothing significant” happened

Before the game, large numbers of Mexican fans gathered outside their hotel, the Westin Palace, playing loud music and revving car engines to prevent the players from getting a good night’s sleep.

Pictures on social media showed players gathered at windows and balconies looking at fans who were not immediately removed by police.

This led to the Ecuadorian Football Federation filing a formal complaint against Mexico for ‘unsupportive behaviour’, and as a result FIFA moved England to another hotel.

Some fans loudly chanted ‘Mexico, Mexico’ and were pushed back by police at one point, but there were no scenes of actual violence.

The roads around the hotel were also closed and only people working or living in the area were allowed to approach the hotel.

Despite raucous scenes outside on Saturday night and Sunday morning, England are confident their preparations for a place in Monday’s World Cup quarter-final at the Azteca will not be disrupted.

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