Mexico hand Efrain Juarez a six-month ban

CELTIC midfielder Efrain Juarez has been handed a six-month international ban by the Mexico football federation after he was allegedly involved in throwing a party at a team hotel following a friendly against Colombia earlier this month.

Carlos Vela was also given a six-month suspension, while 11 other players have been fined following the incident.

The sanctions were announced by national team director Nestor de la Torre, who revealed at a media conference yesterday that Arsenal forward Vela and Celtic player 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 (8 September], for calls for the national team, because there were faults in four sections of the national team rules."

He added: "It's said they are young, but that doesn't exempt them from responsibility."

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.