This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/28/mexico-coach-miguel-herrera-fired

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Mexico coach Miguel Herrera fired after fight with journalist Mexico coach Miguel Herrera fired after fight with journalist
(35 minutes later)
Miguel Herrera, the embattled coach of the Mexican national team, has been fired for punching a TV reporter – just two days after leading his team to victory in the Gold Cup. Miguel Herrera, the combustible Mexico coach famed for his exuberant touchline displays and sharp disagreements with referees, has been fired for punching a TV reporter – just two days after leading his team to victory in the Gold Cup.
The Mexican federation president, Decio de Maria, confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday that Herrera’s contract had been terminated. Christian Martinoli of TV Azteca accused Herrera of punching him as the pair waited in the TSA line at Philadelphia airport on Monday, a day after Mexico’s 3-1 victory over Jamaica. The incoming Mexican federation president, Decio de Maria, confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday that Herrera’s contract had been terminated. Christian Martinoli of TV Azteca accused Herrera, 47, of punching him as the pair waited in the TSA line at Philadelphia airport on Monday, a day after Mexico’s 3-1 victory over Jamaica.
Martinoli, who has been critical of Herrera during Mexico’s Gold Cup run, told AS Mexico that he ran into the national team when he got past security at the airport. There, Herrera allegedly punched him in the neck, then challenged him to a fight outside. De Maria said: “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.
“Matches never finish, and as public figures we have to keep that in mind. Everyone has had an opinion, but our values have to be kept, and no one can be above the type of situation we saw on Monday at the Philadelphia airport.”
Martinoli, who had been critical of Herrera during Mexico’s Gold Cup run, told AS Mexico that he ran into the national team when he got past security at the airport. There, he said, Herrera punched him in the neck, then challenged him to a fight outside.
Related: Gold Cup 2015 final: Mexico roll to seventh title with easy win over JamaicaRelated: Gold Cup 2015 final: Mexico roll to seventh title with easy win over Jamaica
Another source confirmed the events to AS Mexico, saying Herrera told Martinoli they should leave the terminal and head to the street to “fix this like it should be fixed.”Another source confirmed the events to AS Mexico, saying Herrera told Martinoli they should leave the terminal and head to the street to “fix this like it should be fixed.”
After the incident, Azteca urged “a prompt and urgent investigation” by the Mexican federation. Martinoli said: “Everyone will have his version of events, and he probably will deny it. I have no doubt.”
“We are surprised and concerned by the behavior of the national team coach,” the statement said. “The Mexican Soccer Federation should not allow attacks like the one suffered by our colleague.” After the incident, Azteca urged “a prompt and urgent investigation” by the Mexican federation. “We are surprised and concerned by the behavior of the national team coach,” the statement said. “The Mexican soccer federation should not allow attacks like the one suffered by our colleague.”
Despite winning the trophy, Herrera was widely criticised by spectators and pundits for his team’s lacklustre performances in the Gold Cup, the regional tournament for Concacaf nations. After a poor group stage, Mexico needed controversial late penalties against Costa Rica and Panama to advance to the final. Despite winning the trophy, Herrera was widely criticised by spectators and pundits for his team’s lacklustre performances in the Gold Cup, the regional tournament for Concacaf nations. After a poor showing in the 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.
After two dubious penalty calls allowed Andres Guardado to score twice from the spot and help Mexico win their semi-final 2-1, Panama’s FA described the officiating as “insulting and embarrassing”, and accused the referee of favouring Mexico in a “vulgar and shameless way”. After two dubious penalty calls allowed Andrés Guardado to score twice from the spot and help Mexico win their semi-final 2-1, the Panamanian FA described the officiating as “insulting and embarrassing”, and accused the referee of favouring Mexico in a “vulgar and shameless way”.
Herrera himself was sheepish after the victory over Panama: “It’s not ideal. The first wasn’t a penalty, and the fact is we didn’t deserve to win the match because we didn’t play at all well.”
But Mexico showed some vim in the final against Jamaica, scoring three good goals and emerging 3-1 winners to lift their seventh Gold Cup.
De Maria said the federation would not be in any rush to appoint a new coach.
“Regarding a coaching replacement, we have to go out and look for coaches,” he said. “Whatever decision we take will be criticized and analyzed, but we will make a decision that allows all of us to go to Russia in 2018.”
Related: Mexico's football coach investigated over election tweets
Herrera, affectionately known by his nickname, Piojo, or “the Louse”, became famous for his effusive celebrations on the touchline during the World Cup in Brazil. He guided Mexico out of a tricky group containing the hosts, Cameroon and Croatia, but his team had a brain freeze in stoppage time against Holland, losing 2-1 and continuing a Mexican tradition of exiting in the round of 16.
He became Mexico’s fourth coach in a month when he took over in October 2013, with El Tri in the midst of a qualification funk. He oversaw a 9-3 aggregate victory over New Zealand to qualify for the World Cup, and did enough in Brazil to win a contract extension into 2015.
But a poor performance in this year’s Copa América, where Mexico finished bottom of their group, followed more off-field controversy, when Herrera tweeted his support for Mexico’s Green party on 7 June, the day of mid-term elections.
The tweets – which went against the Mexican federation’s own code of ethics – caused a backlash in Mexico and a visibly angry Herrera was forced to defend his actions in a press conference.