Ever since 2016, the Mexican Football Federation has withdrawn its participation from competitions organized by South America’s CONMEBOL. Mexico’s national soccer team played their last Copa America in 2016. Likewise, teams from the Mexican soccer league, Liga MX, stopped featuring in South America’s Copa Libertadores. The conflicting calendars of the CONCACAF and CONMEBOL federations are at the heart of the Mexican withdrawal. However, a popular journalist believes it is the US control over the Mexican Football Federation that has given way to the ongoing hiatus.

Renowned ESPN journalist Rafa Ramos has claimed that the US exercises tremendous control over Mexico’s soccer. While doing so, Ramos also stated that the implications of the infamous 2015 FIFA scandal are at the heart of this Mexican conundrum.

Journalist lays bare US control over Mexican soccer in a bold take

During a live conversation about the upcoming Copa America hosted by the US, Rafa Ramos asserted how the FBI was responsible!

“The US controls Mexican soccer because the FBI has documents that would get many people arrested from the 2016 FIFAGATE. That’s why they play all those tournaments with the MLS,” said Rafa Ramos.

In 2015, the FBI and the IRS’ Criminal Investigation division indicted 14 people in an investigation that revolved around a deceitful agreement between CONMEBOL and CONCACAF and Sports Marketing executives. The allegations include the use of bribery, fraud, and money laundering to corrupt the issuing of media and marketing rights for FIFA games in North and South America.

These indictments prompted certain European and Oceanic countries to launch a thorough investigation on top FIFA officials. As an ultimate result, the then FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, was removed from the position in 2016.

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Meanwhile, Liga MX President Mikel Arriola earlier revealed that the competition is ready for a return to the Copa Libertadores if things fall in place.

Liga MX President on Copa Libertadores return

While Rafa Ramos believes that the US and the FBI control Mexican soccer, the Liga MX President believes Mexico’s return to CONMEBOL competitions is solely in the hands of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL. Earlier in August, Arriola revealed that the Liga MX is open to any invitation to return to the Libertadores. However, he stressed that they must receive the invitation through CONCACAF. This will only happen if the CONCACAF and the CONMEBOL sit down to set things straight.

Until the two bodies sort things out, the US soccer scene will continue to host Mexican clubs, and their South American counterpart will still long for a Liga MX return to the Libertadores.

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