Chicharito denies Mexico players partied with escorts | OneFootball

Javier Hernández says reports the Mexico squad partied with escorts in the run up to the World Cup last week are false.

Pictures emerged of the El Tri players partying late into the night following their friendly victory over Scotland in Mexico City on 2 June.

Various Mexican newspapers claimed escorts were present at the event, but Hernández says he and his team-mates were merely celebrating his 30th birthday in a professional manner.

“The truth is that it was a gathering to celebrate my [30th] birthday,” the West Ham striker said via Facebook Live on Sunday.

“They gave us the night off and the [following] day off and we left [for Copenhagen] the next day and that’s what we did. They organised [the party] for me and I invited all the players to come.

“They all came apart from Jesús Corona, the goalkeeper, because he had a personal issue and he apologised to me and all the squad.

“We ate together and then afterwards a lot of people arrived and every player left at the time they wanted to.

“Another thing that makes me embarrassed and laugh and that I have to talk about now it comes to mind is that there were never escorts or anything similar… that shows a lack of respect for the people that were there.”

But there remains a mystery surrounding the departure of star midfielder Héctor Herrera. The Porto captain was photographed leaving the squad’s camp last Wednesday amid rumours the party had caused problems in his marriage, although he did rejoin his team-mates the following day.

Former international midfielder Guillermo Cantú, who is now general secretary of the Mexican football federation, confirmed none of the players have been disciplined following the incident.

“The day was a free day,” Cantú told reporters.

“That’s the risk you take with [giving] freedom. In truth, it’s not whether we like [what the players may have done] or not, simply that we have to be clear that they haven’t missed any training or a meet-up.”

Mexico kick off their World Cup when they meet Germany in Moscow on Sunday.