The Mexican Football Federation is once again embroiled in controversy after the National Institute of Transparency and Access to Information (INAI) categorically rejected the extortion accusations made by the Aztec football organization. The technical secretary of the FMF, Iñigo Riestra, filed a complaint with the INAI's Internal Control Agency, pointing to Jonathan Mendoza, Secretary of Personal Data, and Miguel Novoa, General Director of Sanctions, for requesting tickets for the inauguration of the 2026 World Cup in exchange for reducing a multimillion-dollar penalty imposed on the FMF.
The FMF alleges that the two INAI executives requested payment in kind in the form of tickets for the 2026 World Cup at the Estadio Azteca, as well as the hiring of a law firm linked to them, as a condition for reducing the imposed fine. In response, the INAI distanced itself from the accusations and expressed its total disagreement, condemning the alleged acts. INAI commissioners stated they are attentive to legal proceedings to clarify the facts and reiterated their commitment to transparency and legality.
This dispute adds pressure to the already existing tensions between the Mexican Football Federation and the INAI regarding personal data protection. It is worth noting that previously, the INAI had imposed a financial penalty of more than 23 million pesos on the FMF on December 14, 2022, for the improper handling of personal data of stadium attendees, resulting from the implementation of the FAN ID system without the proper consent of users.
