Mexico was set to be represented at the OTI Festival 1972 with the song "", written by Roberto Cantoral, and performed by . The Mexican participating broadcaster, (TSM), had selected its entry through a national televised competition with several phases. The song, was disqualified by the (OTI) Program Commission because its lyrics didn't comply with the rules of the competition for going against "the idiosyncratic sensitivity or way of life of the Ibero-American peoples". They requested TSM to send another song, which TSM ultimately did not do.
(TSM) held a national competition with four televised qualifying rounds and a final to select its entry for the 1st edition of the OTI Festival. This first edition of the National OTI Festival featured 31 songs, of which sixteen reached the final.
The shows were presented by Raúl Velasco, and were broadcast on within the show . The musical director was , who conducted the orchestra when required.
The four qualifying rounds were held on Sundays 27 August, and 3, 10, and 17 September 1972. The sixteen highest-scoring entries among the 31 competing advanced to the final.
The final was held on Sunday 24 September 1972. The winner was "", written by Roberto Cantoral, and performed by . The festival ended with a reprise of the winning entry.
After TSM sent to the (OTI) the documentation confirming "" as its entry for the festival, the OTI Program Commission disqualified the song because its lyrics didn't comply with the rules of the competition for going against "the idiosyncratic sensitivity or way of life of the Ibero-American peoples". They requested TSM to send another song, which TSM ultimately did not do. Mexico had been drawn to perform between Colombia and Peru.
Following the disqualification, Roberto Cantoral sued TSM for breach of contract, and claimed that the disqualification generated "a severe and unfair boycott" against him within record labels and radio stations.