ECUADOR’S national federation have threatened to axe a number of senior players after videos emerged that appear to show 16-year-old star Kendry Paez in a strip club.
The teenager, who agreed to sign for Chelsea in the summer, was reportedly amongst a number of stars who were partying in New York City during the international break.
Videos showing a number of stars from the Ecuador national team celebrating were believed to have been captured following their 2-0 friendly win over Guatemala.
Some clips showed players such as Moises Caicedo, Jeremy Sarmiento and John Yeboah in a New York restaurant.
While other videos appeared to show Robert Arboleda of Sao Paulo and Al Sadd star Gonzalo Plata alongside Paez in a strip club.
Arboleda seems to throw cash at a stripper in the club during the clips with the defender receiving widespread backlash as a result.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
And the reported attendance of Paez is a huge concern given his age (16) meaning it would be illegal for him to enter a strip club in the USA.
United States law bans anyone under the age of 21 from attending stripclubs or bars.
The Ecuador federation has since responded to the controversial video in a statement in which they claim the viral clip has gone against their “values and principle”.
The statement read: “Given the facts of public knowledge, the FEF expresses the following: The official delegation had free time on Friday, March 22, from 2pm to 8.30pm, a schedule that was fully complied with.
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
“Images of events contrary to the values and principles that we defend and promote as an institution have been disseminated, which will be the subject of analysis for future calls.
“We reiterate our commitment to Ecuadorian soccer.”
The statement appears to warn that the actions that took place in the video could have an impact on future call-ups for those players involved.
However Arboleda made his feelings on the backlash he has received clear with a statement of his own on social media.
He wrote: “From now on on my free days I will just start reading the Bible because one can’t even have fun ohhhhhhhhh I promise.”
Ecuador were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat to Italy on Sunday, two days after the date on which the federation claim the videos took place.
Paez and Plata both took part in the match while Arboleda was an unused substitute for Felix Sanchez’s side.
Paez agreed a £17.5m move to join Chelsea last year, but will not make the switch until he turns 18.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
For now he will remain at boyhood club Independiente del Valle in the Ecuadorian first division.
The rising star is considered to be one of the best young talents in world football and recently became the youngest ever player to score for the Ecuador national team when he netted at just 16 years and 22 days old.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
