MEXICO: The US has sanctioned the captain of the Mexican national football team, Rafael Márquez for allegedly being the front man for a drug trafficking cartel.
Being part of the 21 people and 42 organisations accused by the US treasury department, he is said to have close ties with alleged drug trafficker Raul Flores Hernandez.
Mexican singer, Julio César Álvarez is also on the list alongside his fellow countrymen and are accused of having “longstanding relationships with Flores Hernández… acted as front persons for him and his DTO [drug-trafficking organisation] and held assets on their behalf” as said by the US treasury department in a statement.
Any US assets of the accused were to be frozen according to the statement.
However, Julio César Álvarez denied the allegations and also came out in support of the footballer. Mr Márquez, 38, has represented Mexico in four World Cups and won more than 140 international caps in two decades with the national side. He has also represented Monaco and Barcelona football clubs in successful campaigns and returned back to lead his hometown side Atlas.