Soccer star’s drug drama

LEGENDARY Mexican soccer player Rafael Marquez Alvarez is among 22 people sanctioned for alleged ties to a drug trafficking organisation, the US Treasury Department announced.

The sanctions are the result of a multi-year investigation of the drug trafficking organisation allegedly headed by Raul Flores Hernandez.

Marquez, 38, is a former defender for Barcelona and Monaco who now plays for Mexican club Atlas and is captain of Mexico’s national team. He denied having any links to drug traffickers.