Mexico Fans Lay Siege To Ecuador Team Hotel on Eve of Clash

Mexico City: Mexican fans staged a noisy celebration outside Ecuador’s team hotel late Monday in an attempt to disrupt preparations for the South American side’s last-32 World Cup match against the tournament’s hosts, officials said.

The Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) said on Tuesday it had lodged a formal complaint with World Cup organizers following rowdy scenes outside its team’s hotel in Mexico City on Monday.

“This behavior falls far short of the principles of fair play, equality and unity that a World Cup should represent,” FEF said in an official statement posted on social media. he said.

Ecuador will host Mexico at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on Tuesday for a place in the last 16 of the tournament.

Addressing scenes outside an Ecuadorian hotel on Tuesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said “one must always be respectful of others” before acknowledging that Mexican football victories bring “tremendous joy”.

“We trust that the Mexican people will act responsibly,” the president added.

On Monday, Mexican fans arrived at the Ecuador hotel in a caravan of cars and motorcycles, according to images published by local newspaper Reforma.

Fans waving Mexican flags, blowing air horns, car horns and trumpets chanted “Ecuador is not sleeping!” He was heard shouting.

Mexico City police then established “a perimeter around the area” while traffic officers managed the flow of vehicles in the area.

“The crowd then dispersed and the situation returned to normal,” a police report said. The statement was included.

Some Mexican media personalities, such as Fox Sports presenter Ana Valero, encouraged fans to join in the disturbance, with ironic messages urging fans “not to go” to the hotel, while also giving the address and time, and suggested they bring “serenades, fireworks and noisemakers” to distract the Ecuadorian players.

The incident is reminiscent of similar disturbances at the 1970 World Cup, when Mexican fans flocked to the England team’s hotel the night before their group match with Brazil in Guadalajara.

Fans banged on bin lids, honked car horns and marched directly into hotel corridors in an attempt to disturb the England players’ sleep.