The Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF) announced Thursday that the entire coaching staff for their Under-20 women’s national team, including longtime national team standout Maribel Domínguez, has been suspended with immediate effect, pending an as-yet-unspecified investigation.
In a brief statement, the FMF announced that they would follow internal protocols for their investigation, with Under-17 head coach Ana Galindo taking over the U-20 job in the interim.
The FMF informs that upon requesting an investigation, the investigation process was immediately opened in accordance with the established internal protocols.
To support this process and guarantee its impartiality, the coaching staff of this team has been temporarily suspended, with DT Ana Galindo assuming responsibility.
In a press conference today to announce a new technical director on the men’s side, FMF president Yon de Luisa said there would be no further comment on the investigation until it is completed:
“We aren’t going to comment until the investigation is complete”
Yon de Luisa shuts down any questioning regarding the recent Sub -20 news.
— Wiso Vazquez (@WisoVazquez) July 21, 2022
Medio Tiempo reported that the investigation is into “inappropriate conduct.” Proceso expanded on that initial report, alleging that the investigation is into at least one member of the coaching staff being accused of sexual harassment, as well as alleging that multiple players have reported attempts at sexual coercion in exchange for a spot on the final U-20 World Cup roster. Proceso also states that Domínguez was aware of the misconduct, but did not act on players’ claims.
Mexico had on Monday gathered a pool of players to train together ahead of next month’s U-20 World Cup in Costa Rica, with the final roster reportedly to be announced on August 4, six days before the competition.
The FMF has undergone major changes of late. On the men’s side, sporting director Gerardo Torrado and senior national team general manager Ignacio Hierro were both fired on July 15, while men’s Under-20 head coach Luis Pérez was dismissed after a shock loss to Guatemala meant that Mexico will not qualify for either the next Under-20 men’s World Cup or the 2024 Olympics.
Meanwhile, the women’s national team stunningly lost all three of its CONCACAF W Championship matches despite hosting the tournament. While head coach Monica Vergara has not been fired, a move is widely expected, as Mexico entered the tournament with expectations to at least qualify for the 2023 World Cup, and show that they’d closed ground on the United States and Canada.
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