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Mexican football promotion protest amid Leagues Cup

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-03 05:23 UTC → 2026-08-04 19:44 UTC · added removed

The minute‑long on‑field protests that began in late July 2026 continued into August as clubs in the Liga de Expansión MX maintained pressure on the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) to restore promotion and relegation. On 1 August, Mineros de Zacatecas led another silent demonstration, covering players’ mouths and spelling “ascenso” on the pitch before a 3‑1 victory over Coyotes de Tlaxcala. The FMF disciplinary commission reiterated its warning warned that further sanctions, including additional fines, could be imposed. Two days later the FMF confirmed that promotion the suspension of the ascenso‑descenso system – originally imposed by Liga MX owners in 2020 and relegation will made temporary during the COVID‑19 pandemic – would be permanently suspended permanent for the 2026 2026‑27 Apertura season, cementing the earlier suspension. season. In response, players from several a dozen second‑tier clubs—including Correcaminos, clubs, including Mineros, Coyotes, Leones Negros, Atlético Morelia, Leones Negros, Atlético La Paz, Cancún, Venados, Cancún and others—refused others, staged symbolic protests at the start of matches, refusing to kick off play the first minute of and covering their matches mouths. A joint statement emphasized that they seek the right to earn promotion on merit, not a guaranteed spot. The players warned that the removal of promotion has triggered sharp declines in salaries, attendance and posted pre‑match photos with mouths covered sponsorships, estimating losses of 50‑80 %. They signaled a possible legal challenge before the Court of Arbitration for Sport to signal their dissent. restore the system. The federation FMF opened an investigation and warned reiterated that repeat offenses could trigger fines exceeding US$11,500. During this period US $11,500. The protests persisted into the second round, with additional clubs adopting the same mouth‑covering gesture, while Liga MX paused its schedule for the Leagues Cup, resuming mid‑August and continuing with the tournament’s quarter‑finals, semi‑finals and final Cup before returning to the regular season. resuming regular‑season play later in August.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-04 19:44 UTC Mexican football promotion protest
  2. 2026-08-03 05:23 UTC Mexican football promotion protest
  3. 2026-08-02 01:04 UTC Mexican football promotion protest

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