The Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) filed a complaint with FIFA on Tuesday after around 1,000 noisy Mexico fans gathered outside Ecuador’s team hotel in Mexico City.
As Ecuador and World Cup co-host Mexico prepare to face off in the round-of-32 match Tuesday, online videos surfaced showing Mexico fans on Monday night, singing, dancing, setting off fireworks and using noisemakers outside their rival team’s hotel.
Police eventually broke up the gathering.
While fan serenades are common occurrences ahead of big matches, FEF alleged that this particular conduct was “far removed from the principles of fair play, equality and unity that a football World Cup should represent.”
Ecuador’s complaint requested that authorities prevent future occurrences and “adopt the necessary measures to safeguard the safety of our players, coaching staff and fans.”
“We trust that these unsportsmanlike acts will not overshadow the football celebration that unites two brotherly nations, and that respect, healthy competition, and fair play — the values that give meaning to a World Cup — will prevail at all times,” the complaint added.
Ecuador and Mexico face off at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
–Field Level Media
