Former professional footballer and current federal deputy for Morena, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, faced criticism this weekend after arriving at the Azteca Stadium in a luxury license plate pickup truck shortly before the friendly match between Mexico and Portugal, which marked the partial reopening of the historic venue. A viral video shows the former forward driving directly into the stadium's parking lot, despite authorities having previously stated that private vehicle entry would not be permitted that day. Why did it cause such a controversy? The pickup truck in which Blanco arrived, allegedly a high-end Cadillac Escalade worth several million pesos, had no license plates, and his direct entry into a restricted area of the stadium sparked a wave of criticism on social media and among fans. According to the video, after rolling down the window to identify himself with security personnel, Blanco briefly greeted some fans before entering the Colossus of Santa Úrsula, the stadium's popular name after its renovation. The annoyance of many users stems from the fact that the legislator was able to access an internal parking lot, primarily reserved for box holders, FIFA personnel, or special guests, something the general public could not do that day. Clara Brugada had announced that there would be no parking at the Azteca Stadium for the Mexico vs. Portugal... unless you are the Governor of MORENA like Cuauhtémoc Blanco. Thank goodness the neoliberal era of privileges is over. Criticism for political contradictions In addition to the parking issue, several netizens pointed out that Blanco's arrival in a luxury vehicle without license plates contrasts with the austerity policies promoted by his own party, Morena. On social media, some users recalled that the Government of Mexico City had announced that private vehicles would not be allowed into the stadium due to a lack of parking and limited capacity during this initial event after nearly two years of renovations. Therefore, Blanco's arrival in his pickup truck was interpreted by many as an example of preferential treatment or privileges not available to the majority of fans who attended the match.
