Mexico suspends eight from roster

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MEXICO CITY -- Eight players from Mexico's team for the Copa America were suspended Tuesday for six months and fined for violating team training rules.

Mexican federation officials said at a news conference they would not disclose details. News reports in Mexico said the incidents took place in Ecuador during training and involved players having female guests in their rooms.

The players named are: Israel Jimenez, Nestor Vidrio, Jonathan Dos Santos, Marco Fabian, Jorge Hernandez, Javier Cortes, David Cabrera and Nestor Calderon.

Of note, Jonathan dos Santos is the younger brother of Giovani Dos Santos, who scored for Mexico's national team in the Gold Cup victory Saturday against the United States.

Mexico is fielding a youth team for the Copa America without stars such as Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez.

Mexico's Copa America team defeated Ecuador 1-0 Saturday in its final warm-up match. The incidents are reported to have taken place after the match.

"I am not going into details of what happened," Hector Gonzalez Inarritu, director of national teams selection, said. "The rules were broken, the code of discipline was broken and I have to act."

The players also were fined $4,100 each. They are expected to be replaced, with the Copa America starting Friday in La Plata, Argentina. Argentina opens against Bolivia.

The players expected to replace them are Kristian Álvarez, Antonio Gallardo, Édgar Pacheco, Alan Pulido, Emilio Orrantia, Úlises Dávila, Diego de Buen and Oswaldo Alanís.

"The players confessed," Gonzalez said. "They are very hurt, very sorry and they have said they are sorry to their fans. ... They are assuming the consequences."

Mexico opens play July 4 against Chile in Group C, which also includes Peru and Uruguay.

A similar incident took place in September 2010 when two players -- Carlos Vela and Efrain Juarez -- were suspended for six months following a party after an international friendly against Colombia in Monterrey, Mexico. Eleven other players were fined.

The incident involved a late-night party involving unidentified women.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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