In January 2014 Mexican authorities arrested Tirso Martinez Sanchez, alias "El Futbolista," or "The Soccer Player."
During his criminal career Martinez was the owner of the Queretaro professional soccer club, and is suspected of , the Irapuato and Celaya clubs, through third parties at various points.
At the same time, he was rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names of 's cartels, including the Amado Carrillo Fuentes, alias "Lord of the Skies," and Arturo of the . In addition to being the head of a major drug trafficking organization wanted for across the border between 2000 and 2003, Sanchez is believed to have benefited from a money laundering scheme involving the transfer of players, in partnership with other wealthy businessmen, through a company known as "Promotora Internacional Fut Soccer."
