Mexico-Ecuador hotel incident, explained: Why formal complaint was filed to FIFA over actions of El Tre fans

Mexico is hoping home-field advantage makes a difference in the team's Round of 32 match against Ecuador at the World Cup. For the country's most passionate fans, that effort started well before kickoff.

Mexican fans gathered outside Ecuador's team hotel in the overnight hours before the game, hoping a sleepless night for the Ecuadorian players tilts the contest toward the Mexican side.

Ecuador is seen as a tough draw for Mexico, which is hoping to advance beyond the Round of 16 for the first time in 40 years but will have to win two more times to achieve that goal.

Here's a look at how Mexican fans kept Ecuador up and why Ecuador is filing a formal complaint with FIFA.

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Mexico-Ecuador hotel incident

Mexican fans gathered outside Ecuador's team hotel the night before the match between the two countries, making noise with horns, instruments and more to try to prevent Ecuador's players from sleeping.

The tradition of rallying outside the opposing team's hotel is a "deeply entrenched, highly polarizing tradition," according to the AP, which adds that it began as a way of rallying support but has since become a "psychological weapon" against opponents.

Fortunately for Ecuador, it wasn't exactly an early start on Tuesday. Mexico and Ecuador are facing off at 7 p.m. local time in Mexico City, so the players didn't have to be up as soon as the sun rose. 

Still, Ecuador was not pleased with the display and let FIFA know about it on Tuesday.

MORE: Why Mexico national team is nicknamed 'El Tri'

Why Ecuador filed complaint to FIFA

The Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) filed a formal complaint with FIFA on Tuesday, asking the organization to take measures that prevent the situation from happening again.

"Such conduct stands in stark contrast to the principles of fair play, equity, and unity that a World Cup should embody," the FEF said in a statement. "The FEF respectfully calls upon the competent authorities to pay greater attention to these events and to adopt the necessary measures to safeguard the safety of our players, coaching staff, and fans."

For the time being, though, Ecuador will have to overcome the disruption. Ecuador would have to play in Mexico City one more time with a win on Tuesday, but Mexico would be out of the World Cup.