- Title: Mexico soccer star Rafael Marquez denies drug ties
- Date: 10th August 2017
- Summary: GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MEXICO (AUGUST 9, 2017) (REUTERS) SOCCER PLAYER RAFAEL MARQUEZ ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RAFAEL MARQUEZ, SOCCER PLAYER, SAYING: "I deny categorically any type of relationship with this organization and with the activities referred to in the media stories. I understand the legal situation in which I find myself, and I will immediately focus my energy on the clarification of the facts with the support of my team of lawyers." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RAFAEL MARQUEZ, SOCCER PLAYER, SAYING: "I reiterate my commitment to support the different authorities and appropriate governments in the measure that I can and to maintain the media informed about this situation." VARIOUS OF MARQUEZ LEAVING FIELD EXTERIOR OF GRAND CASINO WHICH POLICE ARE RAIDING POLICE OUTSIDE CASINO DURING RAID POLICE VEHICLES AND VEHICLES OF INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES SURROUNDING CASINO INVESTIGATORS OUTSIDE CASINO CARS DRIVING PAST CASINO SIGN ON CASINO EXTERIOR OF CASINO AS SEEN ACROSS ROAD POLICE BLOCKING VEHICLE ENTRANCE TO CASINO INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY VEHICLES OUTSIDE CASINO
- Embargoed: 24th August 2017 16:38
- Keywords: Mexican soccer player Rafael Marquez denies drug ties after U.S. sanctions Raul Flores Hernandez casino Jalisco New Generation
- Location: GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MEXICO
- City: GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Crime,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016TKQYBN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Major Mexican soccer star Rafael "Rafa" Marquez denied Wednesday (August 9) evening accusations by the U.S. Treasury Department of financial ties with Raul Flores Hernandez, a suspected drug trafficker with links to the Sinaloa cartel and the Jalisco New Generation gang.
"I deny categorically any type of relation with this organization," he said. "I understand the legal situation in which I find myself, and I will immediately focus my energy on the clarification of the facts with the support of my team of lawyers," the 38-year-old said in a news conference in Jalisco.
Marquez, who was accused along with nearly two dozen other Mexican nationals, gave a voluntary declaration before the Mexican attorney general's office on Wednesday, the office said in a statement.
Marquez, who hails from the cartel-riddled state of Michoacan, is one of the country's best known sportsmen and has played in Europe for club sides FC Barcelona and Monaco. He still occasionally captains the Mexican national team, having represented his country in four World Cup soccer tournaments. His current team, Club Atlas in Guadalajara, could not immediately be reached for comment. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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