The report says the watches were handed back by mutual agreement after being offered on the creator’s initiative. Under Article 21 of ’s Code of Ethics, gifts to players, officials and staff are permitted only when they carry symbolic or trivial value.
A Rolex is difficult to classify as a routine souvenir. Returning the watches appears to remove the immediate compliance question, while also protecting the squad from suggestions that valuable gifts could influence relationships around the team.
The timing makes the story more sensitive. The gifts were reportedly presented shortly before Mexico’s knockout victory over Ecuador, as the squad moved into the decisive phase of a home World Cup campaign.
The report says Mexico are attempting to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986, when they also hosted the tournament. That history raises the pressure around the tie with England, while the Azteca adds a major stage to an already significant fixture.
For the players, the practical priority is clear: close the issue quickly and restore focus to preparation. The return of the watches should help, but the episode remains an unnecessary distraction before a match in which every decision will be examined.
The next test comes at 01:00 BST on Monday, when Mexico face England in the Azteca Stadium. A place in the quarter-finals would make the gift controversy a footnote; elimination would leave the unusual episode as part of the lasting story of Mexico’s campaign.