Mexico coach Miguel Herrera has been given the boot for apparently punching a reporter just hours after the national side won the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The head of the Mexico Soccer Federation, Decio de Maria, made the announcement, stating that Herrera’s conduct was not in keeping with “the spirit of fair and respectful competition”.
BREAKING: Mexico soccer coach Miguel Herrera is fired after claim he punched journalist. pic.twitter.com/VSdQFWXAXY
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 28, 2015
It was claimed by television Azteca’s journalist Christian Martinoli that Herrera, 47, punched him in the neck at Philadelphia Airport.
De Maria told the Guardian: “After listening to all my colleagues, I have made the decision to take Miguel Herrera out of the national team. It is not a simple decision, but it is the correct one.
Herrera on the other hand, issued a public apology for his actions, claiming that he should have been more tactful with the incident.
“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,” he said.
Herrera, affectionately known by his nickname, El Piojo, became famous for his odd celebrations on the touchline during the World Cup in Brazil.
Despite winning the Gold Cup, Herrera was widely criticised by spectators and pundits, mainly by Martinoli, for his team’s dull performances in the regional tournament for Concacaf nations.
Mexico won just one of their group games and needed controversial late penalties to beat Costa Rica and Panama to advance to the final.
In a later statement by De Maria, he said there is no rush in finding a replacement to fill the void left by Herrera. “Whatever decision we take will be analyzed, and should be suitable in allowing us to go to Russia in 2018.”
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