Celtic star Efrain Juarez handed six-month international ban by Mexico for 'throwing a party'

MEXICO duo Efrain Juarez and Carlos Vela have been handed six-month bans by their national federation and 11 other players fined for allegedly throwing a party at a team hotel following a friendly against Colombia earlier this month.

• Juarez (right) with Mexico teammate Vela

The sanctions were announced by national team director Nestor de la Torre, who told a press conference that Arsenal forward Vela and Celtic midfielder Juarez violated four rules from the federation's code of conduct after the 1-0 win in Monterrey.

De la Torre said: "Carlos Vela and Efrain Juarez will be suspended for six months from the date of these events (September 8], for calls for the national team, because there were faults in four sections of the national team rules."

The 11 players to receive fines of 50,000 pesos (2,517) were Giovani dos Santos, Javier Hernandez, Guillermo Ochoa, Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido, Andres Guardado, Gerardo Torrado, Pablo Barrera, Rafael Marquez, Enrique Esqueda and Hector Moreno.