Key Points for El Tri's Rocky Road:
- Mexico players returned lavish Rolex watches gifted by influencer SteveWillDoIt.
- The extravagant gifts violated FIFA's Code of Ethics, specifically Article 20, leading to their return.
- Concerns over a last-minute, seven-hour kick-off change for the England match caused widespread outrage.
- Despite the turbulence, the England vs Mexico game is now confirmed to proceed at its original scheduled time.
Luxury Gifts, Ethical Headaches: The Rolex Return
The drama began swirling after Mexico's impressive 2-0 victory over Ecuador in the Round of 32. Content creator SteveWillDoIt, whose real name is Stephen Rocco Deleonardis, had placed a staggering $2 million wager on El Tri's success, netting him a cool $1.2 million profit. In a moment of extravagant celebration, he gifted each Mexico player a high-end Rolex timepiece.
While the gesture quickly went viral across social media, it immediately flagged a serious breach of FIFA's Code of Ethics. Article 20 of the code strictly governs the acceptance of gifts by players and officials, designed to uphold integrity and prevent undue influence.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Mexican Football Association swiftly intervened. In a statement on their X page, they confirmed that the watches were returned by mutual agreement, as players grew anxious about the potential repercussions of violating FIFA regulations.
Scheduling Shambles: England Clash Thrown Into Disarray
As if the Rolex scandal wasn't enough, fresh chaos erupted with reports suggesting FIFA intended to bring forward the kick-off time for the crucial England vs Mexico match by an astonishing seven hours. This abrupt and unconsulted change sent shockwaves through both camps.
Aguirre's Fury: A 'Kick in the Gut'
Mexico boss Javier Aguirre, who himself had received and returned a watch from Deleonardis, was visibly incensed by the potential scheduling alteration. He didn't mince words, telling Radio Formula, "That's right, it's like a kick in the gut, it changes everything, the plan."
Aguirre passionately explained the ripple effect on his meticulously planned preparations. "It's not that it's completely ruined, but almost, because you have to swallow six hours of scheduled training," he stated, highlighting the profound disruption to everything from meal times and naps to crucial physiotherapy sessions. Both the **FA** and the **Mexican Football Association** were reportedly left out of the consultation process, adding to the frustration.
Fortunately, sanity prevailed. The highly anticipated match between England and Mexico will proceed at its originally planned kick-off time: **1 am BST** (that's **8 pm local time**) at the iconic **Azteca Stadium**. The winner of this thrilling encounter will advance to face either **Norway** or **Brazil** in the quarter-finals. Despite the pre-match drama, both sides will now focus solely on delivering a performance worthy of the **World Cup** stage.
