The reopening of the Banorte Stadium has been the talk of the town. Following the scandal over the traffic chaos, controversies, and criticism of the renovation, another source of indignation has emerged. This time, it is not about the match or the pitch, but about the emergency services that provided support for the Mexico vs. Portugal game.
Social media exploded with evidence that these officials were the first to set a bad example, leaving piles of trash in the areas where they were deployed. The images clearly show the accumulation of cups, trays, containers, and food scraps abandoned on the sidewalk next to the stadium's perimeter wall. Piles of waste, including polystyrene containers, bottles, bags, and debris, are also visible in an area that looks like an operational point or personnel area during the event.
This implies that on a night of operation, surveillance, and institutional deployment, those who were supposed to maintain order left, at least in that zone, a picture of total carelessness.
This adds to an already controversial period surrounding the old Azteca. The stadium's reopening was plagued by logistical problems, complaints from some fans, and other incidents that overshadowed an event meant to project modernity and order ahead of the World Cup.
Now, this new episode reinforces the feeling of a rushed reopening, where not only did the operation fail on several fronts, but also the image of neatness and control expected in one of the country's most important venues. The question here would be whether the stadium also lacked something as basic as enough trash collection bins. After the Mexico vs. Portugal match, outside the Banorte Stadium, all that remained was the feeling of a dull game and a picture of carelessness that casts doubt on basic details about the infrastructure and order at the World Cup venue.
