Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum, on Tuesday assured football fans that their safety is fully guaranteed during World Cup matches in Guadalajara, a city recently shaken by violence.
“There is no risk” to visitors attending the four games scheduled in June, Sheinbaum emphasized, addressing concerns after a surge of violence following the military killing of drug lord Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera.
Oseguera, head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and one of the most wanted criminals in Mexico and the United States, was killed in a military operation roughly 130 kilometres (80 miles) from Guadalajara on Sunday.
The cartel responded with intense clashes, engaging security forces in firefights that left dozens dead, including both cartel members and soldiers, forcing residents and tourists to seek safety.
FIFA, football’s global governing body, has so far declined to comment on the incidents.
As order begins to return, businesses in Jalisco are expected to resume operations on Tuesday, with schools reopening on Wednesday.
Guadalajara is among three Mexican cities set to host World Cup fixtures in the upcoming tournament across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
