As a result, this former PSV player is unpopular in Mexico.

Mexico has the honor of kicking off the 2026 World Cup with a match against South Africa. PSV is very popular in Mexico because of a number of Mexicans such as Andres Guardado, Hector Moreno and Chucky Lozano who played for PSV and also represented Mexico at several World Cups.

Thus Guardado and Moreno, like other former PSV players, Carlos Salcido and Francisco 'Maza' Rodriguez, were active on behalf of Mexico during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The Mexicans finished second in Group A behind host country Brazil and managed, among other things, to keep Croatia, featuring current PSV player Ivan Perisic, and Cameroon behind them. 

Because of this, the North American country qualified for the second round, where Mexico faced the Dutch national team. Oranje finished first in Group B with nine points thanks to wins over Spain (1-5), Australia (2-3) and Chile (2-0).

In the round of 16, both countries faced each other and via Giovani dos Santos Mexico went 0-1 ahead just after half-time, threatening elimination for Oranje. In minute 88, Wesley Sneijder for the Netherlands made it 1-1 and it therefore seemed as though both teams were heading for extra time until former PSV player Arjen Robben launched an individual run on the right side of the pitch and went into the Mexican penalty area.

On the back line, the Mexican defender and also captain Rafael Marquez put his foot in front of Robben’s and the forward went eagerly to the ground as a result. The Portuguese referee Pedro Proença then placed the ball at eleven meters, to the disbelief of the Mexican players and supporters who were present in Fortaleza.

Ultimately it was up to former PSV player Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to slot away the penalty, and with that shot Huntelaar sent the Netherlands into the quarterfinals. Largely due to this action by Robben, Mexico developed a major football trauma and the former striker was hated in that country.

Robben became so unpopular that the former forward during a practice match between both countries in November 2014 was repeatedly booed by the attending Mexican supporters. In addition, from that day until November 2024 a Mexican fan wrote every day on social media #NoEraPenal, which means that this fan believed it was not a penalty.