GUADALAJARA -- Mexico legend Rafa Marquez is set to return for club side Atlas on Wednesday against Chivas in the Copa M.
The 38-year-old Mexico international was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for having links to a drug trafficking organization on Aug. 9 and hasn't played since. The player denied the allegations and said fighting them would be his "most difficult match."
Official: Rafa Márquez in @atlasfc's squad for #clasicotapatio. Could be 1st game since he was accused of narco links on Aug. 9 #eltrieng https://t.co/l8C1kVeuPq
— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) October 26, 2017
Various reports in the Mexican press on Wednesday afternoon suggested Marquez would be in the squad for the round of 16 cup game, which pits Atlas against bitter Guadalajara rival Chivas in Estadio Chivas.
ESPN Mexico is reporting that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury granted Marquez permission to return to the field, following the news on Monday that two of his bank accounts had been unfrozen.
Former Barcelona defender Marquez returned to training with Atlas on Sept. 19.
Marquez is aiming to play in his fifth World Cup at Russia 2018, having featured for Mexico at the Confederations Cup this past summer.