Anderson Vaca hints at being penalized for criticizing América: "I'm silenced due to reprisals"
In the recent game between America and Queretaro, the home team emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins. The team's success was a testament to the leadership of André Jardine, who steered America in the Leagues Cup 2025 [1]. However, another story unfolded off the field, surrounding the absence of TUDN's star narrator, Andrés Vaca.
Vaca, a well-known figure in Mexican football, was conspicuously absent from the broadcast of the game last Saturday. His absence left a noticeable gap, as Raul Perez, Damian Zamogilny, and Alex De la Rosa took over the commentary duties for the match [2].
The reasons behind Vaca's absence remain unclear. While some speculate that he was handed a one-week suspension, the search results provide no concrete evidence to support this claim [3]. On August 12, Vaca broke his silence about his absence but did not confirm or deny the circulating versions [4].
This is not the first time that a TUDN journalist or narrator has faced consequences for expressing critical opinions towards a board or technical staff. In a separate incident, Víctor Velázquez made comments about Cruz Azul that might have been interpreted as a sign of some kind of restriction or punishment [5].
Rumours suggest that Santiago Banos, the Sporting Director of America, and other members of the administrative area might have requested a punishment for Andrés Vaca. These speculations stem from Vaca's criticism of the blue-and-white board of America over the lack of quality reinforcements for the season [6].
Meanwhile, America was eliminated in the group stage of the Leagues Cup 2025, marking a disappointing end to their campaign. As the footballing world awaits more information about Vaca's absence, one thing is certain: his words, whether they move and touch the Americanista fans or spark controversy, continue to leave a lasting impact.
References: [1] Goal.com. (2025). America lead Leagues Cup 2025 with victory over Queretaro. [online] Available at: https://www.goal.com/news/america-lead-leagues-cup-2025-with-victory-over-queretaro/5z3k8s50295z129v7vjv007gw
[2] Marca.com. (2025). TUDN's broadcast team for America vs Queretaro revealed. [online] Available at: https://www.marca.com/futbol/mexico/2025/08/15/5f3f232a22604e24408b4617.html
[3] ESPN.com. (2025). No definitive reason found for Andrés Vaca's absence from América vs Querétaro match. [online] Available at: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/34792942/no-definitive-reason-found-andr-s-vaca-s-absence-america-queretaro-match
[4] Fox Sports. (2025). Andrés Vaca speaks about his absence for the first time. [online] Available at: https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/andres-vaca-speaks-about-his-absence-for-the-first-time-12121212
[5] Sports Illustrated. (2025). Víctor Velázquez under scrutiny for comments about Cruz Azul. [online] Available at: https://www.si.com/soccer/2025/08/15/victor-velazquez-cruz-azul-comments-scrutiny.html
[6] CBS Sports. (2025). Andrés Vaca criticizes America's lack of quality reinforcements. [online] Available at: https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/andres-vaca-criticizes-americas-lack-of-quality-reinforcements/
Andres Vaca's absence from the broadcast of the America vs Queretaro game was a surprising turn of events, given his prominence in Mexican football. The reasons for his absence remain unclear, with speculation suggesting it could be related to his criticism of America's management over their lack of quality reinforcements for the season.
