Mexico return luxury watches gifted by YouTuber

The Mexican national football team has returned luxury watches gifted to them by American YouTuber Stevewilldoit, whose real name is Stephen Deleonardis, after the gifts violated FIFA's Code of Ethics. Deleonardis said he spent $1 million (£747,000) on Rolex watches for every Mexico player and member of staff.

Gift Presentation and FIFA Rules

Deleonardis presented the watches to the squad on Monday, the day before Mexico defeated Ecuador in the Round of 32. The team is preparing to face England at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium on Sunday evening local time (01:00 BST, Monday) in the Round of 16.

However, FIFA's Code of Ethics imposes restrictions on offering and accepting gifts. Article 21 states that gifts can only be offered or accepted if they “have symbolic or trivial value.” The expensive Rolex watches clearly exceeded this threshold.

Return by Mutual Agreement

According to a post on the team's official X account, the Mexico players decided to return the watches “by mutual agreement.” The post also clarified that Deleonardis had gifted them “on his own initiative,” implying the team did not solicit the gifts.

The return comes as Mexico aims to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since hosting the World Cup in 1986. The team's focus remains on their upcoming match against England, which has drawn significant attention.

Context and Background

Stevewilldoit is known for his extravagant stunts and philanthropy on YouTube. His gesture, while well-intentioned, ran afoul of FIFA's strict ethical guidelines designed to prevent undue influence or appearance of impropriety. The incident highlights the challenges athletes face when accepting high-value gifts from fans or influencers during major tournaments.

Mexico's decision to return the watches underscores their commitment to compliance with FIFA regulations. The team has not commented further on the matter, and Deleonardis has not publicly responded to the return.