The Zacatecas Miners players cared very little about the threats from the Mexican Football Federation. The FMF threatened a fine of 234 thousand pesos (about 13,500 dollars) to anyone who protested. However, the Zacatecas team raised the tone of the complaints this Friday after the official cancellation of promotion and relegation in the MX Expansion League.
The protests began last day on different fronts in the silver category. Given this, the Mexican soccer authorities, headed by President Commissioner Mikel Arriola, tried to stop dissidence. The manager warned of financially punishing clubs that expressed their disagreement before the games.
The regulatory threat had the opposite effect. Instead of intimidating the footballers, he increased his demands. This was demonstrated by the Zacatecas team moments before starting hostilities against the Coyotes of Tlaxcala. Seconds before the opening whistle, the players knelt on the field in protest.
The discontent was also immortalized in the official photograph of the meeting. The footballers reflected their frustration by covering their mouths with their hands. A direct claim against the FMF's attempt to silence the issue in the media and bury their options to fight for a ticket in the highest circuit.
The claim was not limited to the playing field. The jewel in the crown came from the stands, where the fans supported their team with banners against the managers. A fan dressed as a miner stood out with a lapidary phrase on his chest: “Football belongs to everyone, yes to relegation.”
Other fans wore t-shirts demanding the return of sporting merit, accusing the leadership of Mexican soccer of burying the category for mere economic ambition.
Mikel Arriola, faithful to his style of operating with tricks, instructed the Disciplinary Commission to apply the sanction of almost a quarter of a million pesos for the events of the previous date. On that day, the teams stood without touching the ball during the first 45 seconds of the game.
Subsequently, they only circulated the ball laterally under the unison cry of the stands: Promotion, promotion! The economic threat is no longer enough to contain the anger of a division that refuses to die on the desk.
The regulation as the sword of Damocles
To protect its position, the FMF Disciplinary Commission warned that it is already taking action on the matter to eradicate these demonstrations. In fact, the agency threatened much more severe punishments under the Sanctions Regulations.
The organization warns that any club that refuses to play without justification, leaves the field or stops actively participating during the match - a direct blow to the 45 seconds of sitting down the previous day - will lose the match at the table by a score of 1-0.
As if that were not enough, the points will be given to the rival and the rebel team will receive a harsh fine of 2,000 UMAs, making it clear that, for the Federation, business and damage control come before sportsmanship.
