Scotland’s friendly with Mexico is ‘in doubt’ amid players’ union strike threat over contractual rights
Alex McLeish will take his new look side on a controversial end-of-season tour that also includes game against Peru
SCOTLAND'S summer friendly in Mexico could be in doubt after their players’ union threatened to go on strike over contractual rights.
And they have warned that international players will refuse to feature in their two pre-World Cup friendlies against Scotland and Wales if an agreement can’t be reached with football authorities.
Alex McLeish will take his new look side to South and Central America at the end of next month to play against Russia-bound Peru and Mexico.
But the glamour friendly in the Azteca Stadium is under threat after a real Mexican standoff.
The argument is over a unique curiosity of Mexican football called the 'Gentleman's Pact' set up to protect clubs’ investments in producing home-grown players.
When a player’s contract is up, he does not get the right to choose his next club.
Instead, a deal must be struck between his new and old club, as if the player still had a contract.
If no deal is struck between the clubs, the player is left in limbo for at least six months.
Even if the player goes outside Mexico, when he eventually returns, a deal still needs to be agreed between his new club and his previous club in the country.
Mexican players have long complained this is against FIFA rules.
BET £10 WITH SUN BETS AND GET A FREE £30 BET
This week a three-hour meeting between the Mexican Association of Professional Soccer Players, Liga MX chiefs and Mexican FA officials broke up without agreement.
And Mexican Association of Professional Soccer Players chairman Alvaro Ortiz confirmed one of the options on the table for the players is a boycott of the friendly against Scotland.
He said: "All we are asking for is exactly the same rights as players in every other league in the world.
"The meeting was positive, but we remain in the same position.
"If no agreement is reached there will be reprisals.
“Our options include refusing to play the last set of fixtures in Liga MX and making no players available for the national team for the matches against Scotland and Wales.
"We hope we don't have to resort to this."
The Scots are due to play Mexico on June 2, five days after the hosts face Wales.
The end-of-season tour has caused controversy, with Celtic gaffer Brendan Rodgers unhappy that up to eight of his players could be selected after another gruelling season.
Earlier this month, SunSport columnist and Hoops legend Davie Provan called on the SFA to pull the plug on the trip, arranged by departed chief executive Stewart Regan.