The Mexican national team has confirmed that its players have returned a set of Rolex watches given to them by content creator SteveWillDoIt, whose real name is Stephen Rocco Deleonardis. The gifts were handed out after Mexico's 2-0 victory over Ecuador in the round of 32, which earned Deleonardis $1.2 million (£900,000) from a $2 million bet.
FIFA Ethics Code Violation
The gift-giving contravenes Article 20 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, which imposes strict restrictions on the acceptance of gifts by players, officials, and other individuals. As a result, the Mexican Football Association (FMF) made it clear that the watches have been returned to the content creator after players became concerned about potentially breaking the rules.
A spokesperson for the national team stated on X: "By mutual agreement, our players decided to return to the content creator the watches that he had gifted them on their own initiative."
Additional Disruption Ahead of England Match
This incident adds to the uncertainty surrounding the Mexico team as they prepare to face England in the World Cup round of 16. Reports emerged that FIFA planned to move the kick-off time forward by seven hours, a change that was seemingly made without consulting either the English FA or the FMF.
Mexico manager Javier Aguirre, who also received and then returned a watch from Deleonardis, expressed fury over the kick-off time change. 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."
Aguirre added: "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
Mexico and England will kick off at the Azteca Stadium at 1am BST and 8pm local time. The winner will face either Norway or Brazil in the quarter-final.
