Iván Vicente Alarcón Cerda, Mexican Official, Spends ‘Personal Day’ At World Cup Allegedly Sneaking In Alcohol Inside Stuffed Bear

Iván Vicente Alarcón Cerda, the coordinator of Water Culture in the City Commission of Water and Sanitation (CMAS in Spanish) of the City of Xalapa, Mexico, could be sanctioned after he had asked for a “personal leave” only to be caught in Brazil enjoying the World Cup. Alarcón Cerda had asked the days from June 23 to June 30 to “resolve personal issues” but was exposed when an ESPN reporter unknowingly published a picture of the Mexican official and friends.

To make matters worse, the group in the picture was carrying a stuffed bear, allegedly used to sneak tequila into the game. “Don’t think they’re being corny… It’s the ‘bear’ that ‘sneaks’ tequila into the stadiums!” wrote reporter Alejandro de la Rosa captioning the controversial picture. Once the picture was published, it became viral and as expected, Alarcón Cerda’s boss got a hold of it. CMAS director, Arturo Zorrilla Castañeda, wasn’t pleased with the use of his employee’s “personal days.”

He said that Alarcón Cerda’s job was in jeopardy, not because he went to the World Cup, but because of the attitude he’s assumed after the scandal ensued. Apparently, besides the viral picture, Alarcón Cerda has been posting photos of his trip on his personal Facebook account. “I can’t tell him or ask him what he was going to use those days for,” Zorrilla Castañeda said. However, he added that he was surprised of the official’s trip. “He asked for those days ahead of time, and they were given to him because we understood that it was about a personal matter.”

Zorrilla Castañeda continued, “In the end I was as surprised as everyone that his ‘personal matter’ was the World Cup.” For now, it is unclear if Alarcón Cerda will be sanctioned or not. “I don’t know what to tell you right now,” Zorrilla Castañeda said. “We will analyze the whole situation. The only thing I was told is that he needed that time to resolve a personal matter. Once he’s back we’ll talk, and based on that we will proceed.”

Meanwhile, Xalapa mayor Américo Zúñiga Martínez added, “I disagree with anyone stepping away from their work responsibilities to go to an event of this magnitude. Although it was during his ‘vacation,’ anyone who is serving an administrative responsibility in the city of Xalapa, has a very serious commitment.” So far, Alarcón Cerda has said in his Twitter account, “Thank you all for being so interested. Anyone who speaks badly about another person and makes up silly stories is because they don’t have anything to say about themselves.”

He continued to retweet messages of support from his followers.