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El Mini Tri opens medal chase with win but scandals back home hog the headlines

By Thomas Buckley

MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 13: Fidel Ambriz of Mexico U21 looks on during the International Friendly match between Spain U21 and Mexico U21 at Ciudad del Futbol de Las Rozas on June 13, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 13: Fidel Ambriz of Mexico U21 looks on during the International Friendly match between Spain U21 and Mexico U21 at Ciudad del Futbol de Las Rozas on June 13, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Mexico U-23 scandals
Just 13 months ago, Grupo Orlegi boss Alejandro Irarragorri was celebrating Atlas’ second consecutive Liga MX title. Now authorities in Mexico are pursuing tax evasion charges against him. (Photo by Mauricio Salas/Jam Media/Getty Images) /

Mexico’s Under-23 team cruised to a 2-0 win over the Dominican Republic in the Central America & Caribbean Games, momentarily taking the spotlight away from the scandals back in Mexico that have given Liga MX a black eye.

Defender Jesús Gómez (8’) and skipper Fidel Ambriz (40’) scored the goals for El Mini Tri though Gerardo Espinoza’s team was inefficient and imprecise up front.

Mexico could have – and should have – posted a scandalous result but after taking an early lead the team’s playmakers came up wanting. Scoring chances were squandered with maddening regularity and awareness was lacking among the forwards.

Mexico next faces host El Salvador on Sunday with a chance to clinch a spot in the semifinals of these quadrennial Games.

Back home in Mexico …

Despite the inauspicious performance, Mexican Federation (FMF) and Liga MX officials were no doubt happy to have the focus back on the pitch instead of on screaming headlines about fraud and corruption that made waves back home.

On Tuesday, sports pages splashed allegations that Alejandro Irarragorri was being investigated on tax evasion charges.

Irarragorri – board director of Grupo Orlegi, the corporation that runs Santos Laguna and Atlas – has become a powerful figure in the FMF.

The reports claimed that the Federal Attorney General’s Office was examining Orlegi’s books, allegedly close to filing charges over failure to pay federal taxes on player salaries in 2017. The figure being bandied about was 17 million pesos of unpaid – or underpaid – taxes.

Santos Laguna released a media bulletin explaining that Irarragorri and Grupo Orlegi had cooperated with investigators – the probe dates back to December – and insisted that its books were in order.

Wednesday morning saw further embarrassing disclosures, this time revealed by Liga MX giants América.

Several publications reported that the Mexico City club uncovered corruption involving a former assistant coach who allegedly skimmed 2.4 million pesos via kickbacks and forged receipts.

Making the situation even more complicated, the former physio was a trusted member of Fernando Ortiz’s staff. The accused – Paolo Pacione – left América for Monterrey, joining Ortiz after the Argentine coach skipped out on the Aguilas in late May.

The new Liga MX season kicks off on Friday – América hosts FC Juárez in the inaugural match – and league officials would prefer not having to answer questions about corruption.

Next. O'Hara makes 4th USWNT World Cup roster. dark

Try as they might, however, Mexico’s soccer executives will struggle to direct attention to the pitch because these stories will have legs.

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