Mexico's national football team has confirmed that players returned a collection of Rolex watches gifted to them by content creator SteveWillDoIt, after the gesture was found to violate FIFA's ethics regulations. The incident adds to the disruption surrounding El Tri's preparations for their World Cup round of 16 match against England.
Gift Violates FIFA Ethics Code
SteveWillDoIt, whose real name is Stephen Rocco Deleonardis, handed out the expensive timepieces following Mexico's 2-0 victory over Ecuador in the round of 32. He had placed a $2 million bet on Mexico's win, earning him $1.2 million (£900,000). The lavish gesture quickly spread across social media platforms.
However, this act of generosity violates Article 20 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, which imposes strict rules concerning the acceptance of gifts by players, officials, and other related individuals. As a result, Mexico's Football Association confirmed that the watches were later returned to the content creator after players became concerned about violating the regulations.
Official Statement from Mexico's FA
In a statement on their X page, a spokesperson for the national team said: "By mutual agreement, our players decided to return to the content creator the watches that he had gifted them on his own initiative." Mexico boss Javier Aguirre also received and later returned a watch from Deleonardis.
Kick-Off Time Controversy
This marks another blow for the Mexico squad, who alongside England have experienced significant disruption over the last 36 hours. They were left stunned by reports indicating FIFA planned to move the kick-off time against the Three Lions forward by seven hours.
Aguirre was especially furious about the potential change, which seemed to have been implemented without consultation with either the FA or the Mexican Football Association. He told Radio Formula: "That's right, it's like a kick in the gut, it changes everything, the plan. It's not that it's completely ruined, but almost, because you have to swallow six hours of scheduled training.
"Obviously, we will abide by what FIFA says. I don't like it at all, nor do my players. Of course, the food, the nap, the sleep, the physiotherapy, everything, everything, it seems trivial, but it isn't. Today, 60 people are working here so that these 26 friends can go out on Sunday and win the game, I mean, it's not a small thing, the truth is that the change is quite important and I'll tell you this, well, I can understand reasons and arguments, but they didn't consult me and yes, I'm quite angry."
Match Details
England and Mexico are due to kick off at the Azteca Stadium at the originally scheduled time of 1am BST, with the winners set to face either Norway or Brazil in the quarter-finals.
