Mexico's Ministry of Anti-Corruption and Good Governance (Secretaría Anticorrupción y Buen Gobierno – SABG) announced a fine of approximately MXN 42.8 million (about USD 2.14 million) against the Mexican Football Federation (Federación Mexicana de Fútbol – FMF) for violations related to biometric data processing.
The fine, reported on July 15, 2026, stems from the federation's collection and processing of biometric data from players and staff without proper consent, as required under Mexico's Federal Law on Protection of Personal Data Held by Private Parties. The SABG investigation found that the FMF failed to obtain explicit authorization for handling sensitive biometric information, including fingerprints and facial recognition data.
This marks one of the largest fines for data privacy violations in Mexico's sports sector. The SABG emphasized that biometric data is considered sensitive under Mexican law, requiring heightened protection and explicit consent from individuals. The federation has the right to appeal the decision.
The case highlights growing enforcement of data privacy regulations in Mexico, particularly concerning biometric technologies used in sports and other industries. The SABG stated that the fine aims to deter future violations and ensure compliance with privacy standards.
