Chivas Defends a Drug Trafficker in Letter to U.S. Government

In an unexpected chapter of its history, Club Deportivo Guadalajara, popularly known as Chivas, once stepped into the political arena far beyond the football field. On September 11, 1989, the club’s then-director general, Manuel Corona Díaz, took a bold and controversial step by writing to the U.S. government in defense of Rubén Zuno Arce, an individual accused of drug trafficking and linked to the murder of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena.

Manuel Corona Díaz, related by marriage to former Mexican President Luis Echeverría, used Chivas’ reputable image to advocate for Zuno Arce’s innocence. He penned a letter asserting that Rubén Zuno Arce was an honest man dedicated to commerce and agriculture, hoping this would impact legal proceedings.

The involvement of Chivas in such a political matter is surprising considering the club’s stature and its influence within Mexican sports culture. At a time when current leaders like Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, tend to shy away from political statements, Chivas’ decision marks a bold divergence from modern norms where clubs often choose neutrality on sensitive issues.

Rubén Zuno Arce was implicated in significant criminal activities during the era dominated by notorious figures such as Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo and Rafael Caro Quintero. Allegations suggested he assisted these drug lords in smuggling narcotics using aircraft from Conasupo, a government enterprise at the time.

Despite Chivas’ efforts through its influential letter, Zuno Arce was convicted based on testimonies by Jalisco state police officers and ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment in Florida, where he spent 23 years before his death in 2012.

This intriguing episode of sports history raises questions about the intertwining roles of politics, business, and sports. It also reflects a period when club identities were as much political as they were athletic—a testament to Chivas’ unique role within Mexican society.

The legacy of this bold stance by Chivas serves as a reminder of how sports entities can influence societal issues beyond their immediate domain, sometimes with unforeseen consequences for all involved.

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El día que Chivas mandó una carta formal al gobierno de EU para defender a un narcotraficante{:target=“_blank”}