- Cruz Azul defender Julio César “Cata” Domínguez threw a birthday party for his son, Matías Domínguez, who turned 12 on January 5.
- The party’s theme centered around laser tag, but took a turn for the worse when children were photographed wearing Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán caps.
- Photos uploaded and then deleted from the Mexican footballer’s social media showed the boy wearing a cap with the slogan “Chapiza” written on it.
- Other children wore hats bearing the initials of the imprisoned drug lord’s first, paternal and maternal last names.
- Cruz Azul suspended ‘Cata’ for three games – he missed Sunday’s game and is eligible to return on February 5
A Mexican footballer has been suspended by his team after throwing a cartel-themed birthday party for his 12-year-old son.
Cruz Azul defender Julio César “Cata” Domínguez celebrated his son Matías Domínguez’s birthday, where the children played Laser Tag with friends at the family home on January 6th.
But Azul was forced to apologise after photos emerged of Matías wearing a hat with the phrase “Chapiza” – a reference to the violent drug lord who is serving a life sentence in the United States.
Another image showed the boy surrounded by his friends, many of whom wore caps bearing the initials of the notorious founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, Joaquin.El Chapo“Guzmán. The L is a nod to Lorera, his maternal family name.
The party came a day after El Chapo’s son, Ovidio Guzman, was arrested by Mexican security forces in an operation that left 30 people dead, including 11 soldiers and police officers and 19 suspected members of the Sinaloa cartel.
The footballer also shared a photo of himself standing behind his son, holding a toy machine gun, surrounded by a group of adult men, including several Cruz Azul players.
But following a backlash, he has since deleted all the photos from his social media platforms and issued a slavish apology.
“I recognize that these (images) do not contribute to creating a better impression of Mexico and that neither I nor my family promote or justify any type of violence,” he wrote in Spanish on Sunday.
“We are people who promote sport for new generations, in addition to the values and principles of an exemplary institution, such as the Cruz Azul Football Club,” he added.
Liga MX and Cruz Azul issued a joint statement condemning the actions of “Cata” Domínguez.
“Liga MX and Club Cruz Azul reiterate their rejection of any behavior that violates professional ethics and the manifestation of any act that incites violence,” he said.
In addition, Cruz Azul suspended “Cata” for three games. He will be able to return on February 5 for a home game against Tigres UANL.
