FIFA taking precautions amidst England's Mexico hotel concerns ahead of Round of 32
England have received authorization from FIFA for security barriers to be erected around their team hotel ahead of the Three Lions’ game against Mexico at Estadio Azteca on Sunday.
There are serious concerns that Mexican supporters are poised to cause chaos the night before the World Cup Round of 16 encounter, but FIFA have now intervened to counter any such plans.
Despite the FA’s efforts to keep the location of the team’s accommodations under wraps, there is a strong expectation that Mexico fans will stop at nothing to ensure Thomas Tuchel’s men are deprived of sleep ahead of their round-of-16 battle against the host nation on Sunday, as per The Mirror.
- Australian soccer fans’ anti-Donald Trump chant could spark World Cup controversy
- England hatch plan to avoid Mexican fan disturbance ahead of Round of 16 game
The night before Mexico’s Round of 32 game against Ecuador on Tuesday, thousands of supporters congregated outside the Ecuador team hotel to ignite fireworks, sing, and rev car engines in an attempt to disrupt the players’ rest ahead of the knockout match.
Mexico wound up winning the game 2-0 the following day, and the Ecuadorian Football Federation has since filed a formal complaint with FIFA following the incident in Mexico City. Consequently, thousands of Mexican fans are anticipated to replicate their tactics ahead of the monumental game against the Three Lions.
The expected ambush has created a logistical headache for England and the FA, who would have preferred a late arrival into Mexico City, both to minimize the effects of the altitude and to avoid a nightmare evening.
However, FIFA tournament regulations require teams to arrive in the host city within 24 hours of kick-off, scheduled for 8pm local time on Sunday.
To listen to the latest episode of ‘All Out Soccer’ – CLICK HERE
“The recommendation is you either go ten days before – which is too long for us – or last minute, which is not allowed,” Tuchel explained, adding “we will go one night earlier. It makes sense.”
FIFA sources have confirmed that decisions to implement roadblocks around a team’s hotel are handled on a case-by-case basis, with the high-stakes Round of 16 showdown at Estadio Azteca deemed worthy of such measures.
Tuchel is acutely conscious of the potential disruption his squad faces the evening before the match: “We will expect that of course, but what shall we do? We will bring stuff [like ear plugs] of course, but I expect everything.”
Mexico’s Round of 32 opponents, Ecuador, were incensed by Mexican supporters’ rowdy ‘serenade’ outside their hotel in Mexico City, declaring on Tuesday that it ran counter to the principles of fair play.
Following a formal complaint to FIFA, Ecuador’s federation released a statement saying: “This conduct is far removed from the principles of fair play, equality and unity that a football World Cup should represent.”
