With the arrest of Walter Gaitán, another Liga MX figure joins the list of players who faced legal trouble.
The MX league has long reflected the social challenges facing the country. Over the years, several national championship players have faced legal action and jail time for various offenses. From drug and kidnapping cases to more recent incidents involving domestic violence and possible femicide, MX players have often been at the center of public discussion for reasons beyond football.
Here is a review of notable cases and what led each player to end up behind bars inside this overview.
GONZALO FARFAN
In 1997, the former American player was driving under the influence, leading to an accident that killed two members of a cleaning crew in Mexico City. After authorities confirmed his condition, Farfán was arrested, though he was later released on bail several months afterward.
JESUS ARELANO
In 2019, the former Rayados de Monterrey and national team player faced allegations of sexual abuse from a family member. Days later, Arellano was detained and sent to Topo Chico Prison, where a judge later declared him not guilty.
GIANCARLO MALDONADO
The Venezuelan player, who had spent time with Atlante, was accused in 2013 of failing to pay alimony to his ex-wife and was handed over to authorities in Cancun. He settled the debt within a day and was released.
CHRISTIAN HOBBIT BERMUDEZ
The player nicknamed Hobbit received a formal prison sentence in 2016 for alimony non-compliance. After 14 days in detention and partial payment of the debt, the league champion was released and was set to return to Puebla.
OSWALDO SANCHEZ
In 2008, during a national team concentration, Oswaldo Sánchez was detained by Chicago authorities following a disturbance at the team hotel. As a felony, he left custody on a $1,000 bond.
JONATHAN FABRO
The former Lobos BUAP and Jaguares de Chiapas player faced a potential 14-year prison sentence in Argentina for alleged abuse of his goddaughter. He was arrested in Puebla in 2017 and later extradited to Argentina to serve the sentence.
OSCAR RABBIT PEREZ
While in Pachuca in 2015, the player known as Rabbit was referred to a security checkpoint for alcohol-related issues. He was released after an appeal later that day.
JOAO MALECK
The young talent was imprisoned in Puente Grande in 2019 after a fatal car crash that took the lives of two newlyweds. He was released three years later and returned to professional football in the Expansion League.
LUIS GOROCITO AND ALEJANDRO MOLINA
Then with Necaxa, the two players were arrested for assaulting a 22-year-old in a club in Aguascalientes. The victim died months later from the injuries sustained. Surveillance footage confirmed the assaults, and the players received a formal prison sentence for malicious injury with aggravating circumstances.
AURELIO COREANO RIVERA
In 1996, Rivera known as Coreano, was arrested after hitting two cyclists who died in the crash. He was found intoxicated and handed over to authorities, later sentenced to six years in prison. He was released early for good behavior and returned to the Mexican game wearing the Puebla jersey.
Carlos Alvarez
In 2003, the former Necaxa player was detained at Benito Juárez International Airport while traveling to Colombia with a large sum tied to organized crime. He received a five-year prison sentence that he ultimately served.
OMAR GATO ORTIZ
The former Mexican goalkeeper became infamous for involvement with organized crime. Ortiz, linked to kidnapping cases in 2011, was sentenced to a lengthy term. He began serving a 60-year sentence after adjustments, and later faced events during prison riots that impacted his status.
RAMON RAMIREZ
In the early 2000s, Ramirez was involved in a fatal car crash that claimed four lives. While he was initially jailed, he managed to secure bail after a period in custody.
The most recent high-profile case is Renato Ibarra of Club America. The Ecuadorian player faced allegations of assault against his partner, resulting in hospitalization. He was moved to a Mexico City facility and, after a period, was released following a pardon from the victim.
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Daniel Alves was summoned to appear before a judge in Barcelona over a sexual assault accusation from a bar incident on December 30, 2022. The player was taken into custody on January 20 and ordered to remain jailed without bail.
WALTER GAITAN
In March 2023, Gaitan, a Tigres legend, was arrested by Guadalupe police in Nuevo León on domestic violence charges. Reports of substance use had circulated weeks earlier on social media, contributing to the controversy surrounding his case.
Source: Goal