FIFA has officially warned the Mexican football federation that coach Ricardo Lavolpe, a 54-year-old Argentine, must stop smoking on the sidelines during World Cup matches. The governing body reviewed footage from Mexico's Group D opener against Iran and confirmed Lavolpe had been smoking during the game, which Mexico won 3-1.
FIFA communications chief Markus Siegler said a formal letter would be sent to the Mexican federation making clear that no coaching staff or other personnel on the sidelines may smoke. Lavolpe's only alternative to compliance is removal to the spectator stands, where smoking is permitted.
Lavolpe learned the habit alongside legendary Argentine coach Cesar Luis Menotti, who was famously filmed chain-smoking throughout Argentina's 1978 World Cup campaign. Lavolpe acknowledged the habit but downplayed its severity, arguing it does not impair his professional duties the way alcohol would.
Brazilian football icon Socrates, himself a heavy smoker during the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, similarly dismissed any link between cigarettes and on-field performance. Croatian coach Zlatko Kranjcar also took a relaxed view, saying smoking had not prevented his players from reaching elite level.
One possible path forward for Lavolpe is the approach taken by Dutch great Johan Cruyff, who replaced cigarettes with lollipops after undergoing heart surgery.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in June 2006, in its own words.