Several of Mexico's top clubs held an improptu meeting one day after a Mexican watchdog agency opened a probe regarding transfer practices and whether they violated federal law on competitive practices.
Sources told ESPN's Rene Tovar and Ricardo Carino that representatives from six major teams -- Pumas, Chivas, Morelia, America, Santos and Tigres -- met Wednesday to discuss Mexico's federal economic competition commission's (COFECE is the Spanish acronym) inquiry into monopolistic tactics after recognizing irregularities during various transfer windows.
The meeting took place for over three hours at the main training facility of the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) in Mexico City, which was also attended by FMF secretary-general Gilberto Hernandez. Sources also said that the FMF had been notified of these allegations and had received a notice from COFECE to revise its computational systems.
Mexico's main goverment publication stated on Wednesday that COFECE "had knowledge that derived from the possible realization of illegal monopolistic practices that are in direct conflict with Article 53 of the Law of the Federal Economic Competition Commission."
COFECE head Sergio Lopez confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday that the agency was investigating the transfer market in Mexico, adding that players, clubs, coaching staff, the federation and agents could all be investigated. The agency said it began its inquiry on June 29.
COFECE has the ability to hand out a maximum 10-year prison sentence to persons guilty of pacto de caballeros (gentlemen's agreement), a non-official agreement between clubs regarding the movement of Mexican players, in addition to a fine equal to $876,452. Agents who are found guilty of aiding such procedures face a penalty that is equal to up to 10% of their income or a fine of $788,671.32 and being stripped of a professional license.
No charges have been filed but clubs were notified to perform their own due diligence into player signings.