Mexico's national football team has returned luxury Rolex watches gifted by American content creator Stevewilldoit after concerns that they could conflict with FIFA's ethics rules.
The watches were given to players at Mexico's training base ahead of their World Cup round-of-32 match against Ecuador, which Mexico went on to win 2-0.
Stevewilldoit, whose real name is Stephen Deleonardis, said in a video posted to his YouTube channel that the watches were worth between $30,000 and $90,000 each, with a total value of around $1 million.
In the video, Deleonardis said he had placed a $2 million bet on Mexico to beat Ecuador. He told players that the wager would generate a profit of about $1 million — the same value as the watches he distributed to the squad.
When asked by midfielder Obed Vargas why he had provided the gifts, Deleonardis said it was because he lived in Mexico and was backing the team to win.
FIFA's code of ethics allows only gifts of "symbolic or trivial value" and prohibits gifts that could be perceived as influencing participants or creating a conflict of interest.
Violations of the rules can result in disciplinary measures, including fines of up to 10,000 Swiss francs ($12,500) and bans from football-related activities for up to two years.
Mexico later announced on its social media channels that the watches would be returned.
The team said the decision had been made jointly with Deleonardis and stressed that the gifts had been offered on the content creator's own initiative.
The episode comes as Mexico continues its World Cup campaign on home soil. The co-host nation has yet to concede a goal in four matches and is preparing to face England in the round of 16 at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium on Sunday.
While the gifts have now been returned, the incident has drawn attention to FIFA's strict rules on gifts and potential conflicts of interest during major international tournaments.
Türkiye has asked Interpol to issue a red notice for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a criminal case linked to Israel’s int...
U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran was not ready to make what he called the "right deal" with Washington as tensions persisted over th...
A large-scale drone attack has hit Russia's Samara region, damaging facilities and disrupting operations at an Ozon logistics complex, accordin...
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Russia is open to listening to new proposals on how to reach a settlement on the Ukraine conflict, a senior Russian diplomat said, but any proposals should reflect the "realities on the ground".
Five years after Evergrande's debt crisis rattled global markets, founder Hui Ka Yan has been sentenced to life in prison, marking a dramatic new chapter in the downfall of China's former property giant.
Iran has condemned new U.S. sanctions as “economic terrorism” and “crimes against humanity”, accusing Washington of pursuing a decades-long policy of hostility. Tehran said the measures would not weaken its resolve to defend its sovereignty and national interests.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued his strongest warning yet over Türkiye's growing military role in Syria, saying Israel will not accept Turkish forces expanding their presence further south.
Türkiye has asked Interpol to issue a red notice for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a criminal case linked to Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said on Friday.
A large-scale drone attack has hit Russia's Samara region, damaging facilities and disrupting operations at an Ozon logistics complex, according to regional authorities and the company.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 22nd of August, covering the latest developments.
Around 70 bodies are expected to be buried as families continue to search for missing relatives.
One person was killed and three others injured on Friday when an 18-year-old man armed with a sword attacked students at a school in Fagersta, central Sweden, before police shot and detained him.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment