8 players suspended from Mexico team

MEXICO CITY (AP)  Eight players from Mexico's team for the Copa America were suspended Tuesday for six months 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.

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 on 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," said Hector Gonzalez Inarritu, director of national teams selection. "The rules were broken, the code of discipline was broken and I have to act."

The players were also each fined $4,100.

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

Mexico quickly called up eight new players as replacements: Kristian Alvarez (Chivas), Diego de Buen (Pumas), Antonio Gallardo (Chivas), Edgar Pacheco (Tigres), Alan Pulido (Tigres), Ulises Daila (Chivas), Carlos Emilio Orrantia (Pumas), Osvaldo Alanis (Estudiantes).

The Copa America opens on Friday in La Plata, Argentina, with host Argentina playing Bolivia.

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

A similar incident took play 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.

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