Rafa Márquez, Julión Álvarez Sanctioned For Ties To Drug Cartels, US Treasury Confirms

The United States Department of Treasury has sanctioned Rafael Marquez and Julión Álvarez for for alleged ties to a drug trafficking organization. The Mexican soccer star and Regional Mexican singer are both among 22 people and 43 entities in Mexico, including a soccer team and casino, that received the notice.

Rafa Marquez is a Mexican soccer player currently playing for the Atlas team in his home country. He has previously played in clubs like the New York Red Bulls, Monaco and Barcelona.

Álvarez is one of the best selling recording artists in México and has been in controversy. He was recently called out for being a misogynist for an unfortunate comment he made about women. He was criticized on social media for saying he liked “women that can pick up a mop,” and arguing that you can have all the beauty in the world, but “if you can’t do that, he can’t work with it.”

“What did they call me? Misogynist, and all that,” the 32-year-old singer told the media when confronted about the verbal attacks he’s been receiving on social media.

He continued, “I would never, I respect, admire, love, and admire whatever a person does. But, for Julión Álvarez, for Julio César Álvarez, a good woman, is a woman who stays in the house, and yes, the woman I have, or the one I would want to have, or the one I happen to have at the time, should be able to do everything.”

The regional Mexican music star proceeded to admit that he was still standing behind the comments he had previously made, and explained that it was his preference, having a woman who stays at home and warmly welcomes him every night.

Previous to that he was involved in the Gerardo Ortiz controversy over a music video that depicts the singer killing a woman for cheating on him. People did not like the imagery and all hell broke loose. Julión defended his friend: “As an artist, you always have to try something new,” Álvarez said during an interview with the Mexican media. “I know Gera, he is my friend, and his work team is also very professional. I think the intention was never to offend anyone, and things are just being looked at from a bad point of view.”

“I do dare to stand up for Gera and all his team. I do think this is a bit exaggerated, especially for kids out there. I too have done things I didn’t like to do,” he concluded.