The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) has begun to take a very strict stance on the rules for the Mexican World Cup training camp, warning players that they could lose their place if they miss deadlines. The rule covers all players of the Liga MX who have been called up for national duty in the run-up to the tournament.
The Federation’s message is loud and clear. All players selected will have to make it to the High Performance Centre in Mexico City on time. The officials have said that not attending the camp would result in a straight elimination from the World Cup team. This reflects a “zero tolerance” policy as preparations get under way.
The action follows a clash between club and country. Toluca received an exception to stay with their team to take on Los Angeles FC in an important CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final.Players from Toluca were given an exception to stay in their ranks to play against Los Angeles FC in an important match in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final. The second leg is very important as Toluca are playing their game at a deficit of 2-1 on aggregate.
But not all are happy with the federation’s move. Amaury Vergara, owner of Guadalajara, openly criticised the situation. There are several of his players in the national team and his club is also battling to survive in the Liga MX Clausura playoffs. It’s a 3-1 deficit that Guadalajara must overcome in the quarter-final second leg against Tigres UANL.
On top of this pressure, Vergara encouraged the players to consider their club responsibilities when dealing with the situation. The conflict between the club needs and national obligations is nothing new, but with a hardline approach to the policy, the stakes are higher for the FMF.
