July 28 – Managers normally get fired for being knocked out of tournaments early but within a few of days of winning the Gold Cup, Miguel Herrera has been sacked as national coach of Mexico for punching a journalist.
Television reporter Christian Martinoli says he was hit in the neck and threatened by Herrera at Philadelphia Airport in the wake of the country’s 3-1 win over Jamaica.
Incoming Mexican Soccer Federation boss Decio de Maria said the incident was not in keeping with the body’s “spirit of fair and respectful competition”.
De Maria, who has just succeeded Justino Compean, added: “After evaluating the situation and listening to everyone that makes up this family, I’ve made the decision to remove Miguel Herrera from his post. It was very tough for Miguel (but) our values, our principles, are above any result. In our profession, our industry, the matches are never over, and as public figures who represent an institution we must be absolutely clear on that. No-one can be above the type of situation we saw on Monday at the Philadelphia airport.”
Herrera, whose touchline antics are renowned, led his team to the last 16 of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil having been appointed Mexico’s fourth manager in six weeks.
After a poor showing in the Gold Cup group stage, where they won just one of their three games, Mexico needed controversial late penalties against Costa Rica and Panama to advance to the final. Martinoli had been critical of Herrera throughout and the latter apparently responded by punching the journalist while the pair waited in line at Philadelphia airport 24 hours after Mexico’s Gold Cup triumph.
One report said the coach told him they should leave the airport terminal and move outside to “fix this like it should be fixed”.
Herrera immediately apologised, saying in a statement he regretted “the painful incident I had with a commentator.”
“It is clear to me that this is not the attitude that a coach for the Mexican national team should take, despite having received all manner of criticisms, offenses and mockery of my family and my person.”
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