Chivas De Guadalajara Player Jesus Padilla May Not Be Mexican Enough To Be A Goat

Modern soccer is global soccer so being from another country on a soccer club is as prevalent as an Italian striker diving in the penalty area. Yet, some teams like Mexican club Chivas de Guadalajara stand firm in their decision to exclusively appoint Mexican-born players to their rosters. It’s an age old tradition and the fans love it. But what if there’s a mole? What if one of their players isn’t Mexican enough? Like, what if they were born in California, which is kind of like Mexico, and some claim should be given back to Mexico, but isn’t really Mexico. Could they still play for Chivas? Jesus Padilla might have to answer some of those questions soon.

SI.com has learned that 20-year-old Padilla was, in fact, born in California and not in the Mexican state of Jalisco, as his bio on Chivas’ Web site states. At any other club in Mexico, such a fact wouldn’t be an issue. At Chivas, however, it’s a big deal.

Turns out the 20 year old, nicknamed “Gringo”, was actually born in San Jose, Ca. And we’ve been there recently and damn straight it’s not Mexico. There’s, like, a bunch of suburbs and techies with money and shite. Claudio Suarez, former Guadalajara player and current Chivas USA captain, chimed in.

“We all thought he was 100 percent Mexican but I didn’t know that, I believe, he was born here in the United States…In Guadalajara, there is a great passion for the club and some bring up ‘because they only play with Mexican players.’ So there was the conflict with the fans who did not want Mascareño to play there anymore.”"

Well, Chivas have been winning domestically rather consistently so we say dump the kid. Or, better yet, beat him with a stick. And make candy come out of his mouth. And tell him to wear a sombrero at practice. And tell him to recite Vicente Fernandez lyrics on the sidelines. Is this absurd enough? Thanks.
‘Gringo’ in Chivas midst [SI]
Image [Getty]