Football matches postponed in Mexico following death of prominent cartel figure

Mexican Football League Postpones Matches Amid Security Concerns

Several high-level football matches were postponed or cancelled on Sunday due to security concerns following the killing of a prominent drug cartel leader in Mexico. The Mexican army killed Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho”, who led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in Tapalpa, Jalisco.

As a result, two top-tier competition fixtures – Queretaro vs Juarez in the men’s tournament and Chivas vs America in the women’s league – were postponed. Additionally, two matches in the second division were cancelled. An international friendly match between Mexico and Iceland, scheduled for Wednesday at the Corregidora Stadium in Queretaro, has also been cancelled by the Mexican Football Federation.

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is considered one of the most powerful in Mexico, with an estimated 19,000 members and operations spanning 21 states. The cartel’s leader was designated a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” by the administration of United States President Donald Trump.

Following his death, cartel members responded by burning cars and blocking roads in nearly a dozen Mexican states. Guadalajara, which is scheduled to host four World Cup games in June, including two involving South Korea, has been affected by the violence. The Mexican Open, an ATP tennis tournament, will begin on Monday at the GNP Arena in Acapulco, Guerrero, with organisers stating that the tournament’s operation continues as normal.

The Mexican Football Federation and other authorities are working to ensure public safety during the upcoming events.

Source: Al Jazeera