Vela banned from Mexico matches

Mexico duo Carlos Vela and Efrain Juarez have been handed six-month bans by their national federation while 11 other players were fined for allegedly throwing a party at a team hotel following a friendly victory against Colombia earlier this month

The sanctions were announced by national team director Nestor de la Torre, who saidArsenal forward Vela and Celtic midfielder Juarez violated four rules from the federation's code of conduct after the 1-0 win in Monterrey.

De la Torre said: "Carlos Vela and Efrain Juarez will be suspended for six months from the date of these events (September 8) from calls for the national team because there were faults in four sections of the national team rules."

Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, Tottenham winger Giovani dos Santos andFulham's Carlos Salcido were among the 11 players fined 50,000 pesos (£2,500).

The others are Guillermo Ochoa, Francisco Rodriguez, Andres Guardado, Gerardo Torrado, Pablo Barrera, Rafael Marquez, Enrique Esqueda and Hector Moreno.

Vela hit the tabloid headlines last week as it was alleged that the footballers had hired "14 prostitutes and a transvestite" - by The Sun - for the party.

The players denied this, saying they had hired a ballroom for a celebration with family and friends.

Salcido said at the time: "If there is a fine to pay, I will accept it. I offer a personal apology, but the papers say we hired 15 prostitutes including a transvestite - and that did not happen.

"We had a few drinks, but that is as far as it went."