The Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) has filed a complaint with FIFA for what it called “off-field incidents” ahead of Ecuador’s World Cup round-of-32 match versus Mexico.Ecuador’s complaint comes after videos emerged online on Tuesday purportedly showing Mexico fans staging an impromptu fan fest outside their rival’s team hotel, the night before their knockout round game at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.The videos showed Mexico fans playing music, dancing, chanting, revving vehicle engines, honking horns and setting off fireworks. This type of gamesmanship is seen often throughout Latin America club and international football ahead of high-stakes matches, as well as in the English Premier League and mainland Europe.The FEF, however, referred to such behavior as “conduct (that) falls far short of the principles of fair play, equity, and unity that a football World Cup should represent.”
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— Policia Bancario e Industrial ➐ (@ECZ23) June 30, 2026“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 FEF statemnt continued.
