Match-Fixing Concerns Resurface in Mexican Soccer After Liga Premier Game Suspension

The Liga Premier of Mexican soccer is once again under scrutiny after a match between Cañoneros FC and Héroes de Zací FC was suspended due to suspicions of possible match-fixing, according to an official statement from the league’s governing body.

The match, corresponding to Matchday 16 of the 2025–2026 season, Serie A Group 3, was scheduled to be played at the Antonio M. Quirasco Stadium in Xalapa, Veracruz. However, it was reprogrammed following alerts regarding alleged irregularities linked to the final outcome of the game. Liga Premier authorities explained that the decision to suspend the match was taken as a preventive measure after identifying indicators that could point to potential result manipulation.

Following the postponement, Cañoneros FC released an official statement distancing itself from any responsibility related to the accusations, claiming the allegations are “unrelated to the club” and suggesting that the investigation should instead focus on the opposing team. This latest incident reignites the broader controversy surrounding match-fixing in Mexican soccer, particularly in the wake of the Real Apodaca scandal earlier in 2025, when several players were sanctioned for manipulating results tied to sports betting.

In that case, the Mexican Football Federation and Liga Premier imposed multi-year suspensions on those involved as part of a broader effort to strengthen the integrity of domestic competitions and combat the growing influence of betting on match outcomes. League officials and clubs have since increased monitoring of sporting irregularities, recognizing that match-fixing and illegal gambling pose a serious threat to the credibility of Mexican soccer and undermine fair competition across all levels of the national game.