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Mexico coach Miguel Herrera involved in altercation with reporter

MiguelHerreraMexico1-Finland (USATodaySports)

By DUNCAN BOCHICCHIO

It’s no news that Mexico Head Coach Miguel Herrera has a wild side to him, which was quite clear from his sideline celebrations in last year’s World Cup, but that wild side has now, allegedly, translated off the field.

Following Mexico’s victory over Jamaica in the Gold Cup Final on Sunday, Herrera confronted TV Azteca’s reporter Christian Martinoli in a Philadelphia airport. Martinoli claims that Herrera struck him on his neck, and former Mexico International and now-reporter Luis Garcia stepped in to stop the altercation from escalating further.

According to Azteca News, “El Piojo” denies ever hitting Martinoli, saying “Yes, I argued with him, but I didn’t hit him, I’m not that stupid.” Martinoli has been one of Herrera’s biggest critics, and the two argued over Twitter following Mexico’s early exit in this summer’s Copa America. Azteca TV’s David Medrano also reported that Herrera’s daughter slapped Luis Garcia as he stepped in to break up the exchange.

Herrera was hoping to silence the critics by winning this year’s Gold Cup, but if what Martinoli claims is true, it doesn’t matter how many trophies Mexico wins, Herrera could be forced to step down. There is still no video evidence or official statement from the Selección de Fútbol de México (Mexico’s Football Federation), but expect to hear more from this story very soon.

Comments

  1. Hold up there! Play has stopped in the airport at the last moment. It seems an American official is stepping in. Yes, he’s made a decision and is awarding a free kick to Herrera. The coach gets a free kick anywhere he likes on Martinoli’s person. Another last minute miracle for El Tri!

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  2. Martinoli is not really a reporter. He’s just a guy whose job is to make fun of people and I don’t thingk he knows that much about soccer. He can be funny sometimes, but he can also get unnecessarily personal. I doubt anybody is feeling sorry for him right now.

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    • I can’t picture Klinsi punching anybody for insulting or making fun of him. El Piojo is just an uncivilized troll who responds with violence to any type of provocation.

      Fun fact: He would have been in the Mexican 1994 squad had he not, yes, punched and kicked some guy who taunted him.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I9vN1Z4ilM

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      • Not to be overly obvious – but you know, “piojo” in Spanish is slang for “head lice.” Pleasant thought.
        In that video Herrera looks like the love child of Rod Stewart and Diego Maradonna.
        He has a temper.

  3. This story is hogwash,…there is no way he hit him on his neck. If Hererra wanted to hurt this reporter he would have gotten loaded and thrown a bottle at him!

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    • You know, pretty much all that you have listed there happens on the regular in UEFA, right? CONCACAF has its problems, yes, but those you listed are more of a UEFA thing…maybe not the fights with reporters bit.

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    • Wow!!! Just like the Mexican fans, a bunch of animals LLOOLLLL!!!!
      She looks like her papi, El Pijo, but with a wig and a mustache

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      • Animals? No mat. He was defending his family from a jerk and you on the other hand are a coward the would let someone call you mom a cum bu ket and your wife a throw away cuz you are a coward hiding behind a keyboard.

  4. According to the Mexican media, herrera and martinoli hate each other and have beef between each other since herrera coached with club america.
    Martinoli has made fun of him,his daughter,club America and the gaint tv company Televisa,aka the mexican ABC.
    Herrera has threatened martinoli once and he wasn’t lying,he said I will see u in the streets and approach and he did.
    For now its a tv company war,tvazteva vs televisa since herrera is back by televisa.
    Televisa also owns the rights for the biggest teams in Mexico and the national team, aka the ABC of Mexico.
    Who will win the battle?
    I think herrera will stay and apologized if not head to Spain and coach.
    Thats herreras dream and he said, after Russia he would go to Spain.
    This might sound crazy but an mls team should hire him if he gets fired.
    I forgot to say, her daughter is a little brat like a Kardashian but not good looking.
    For now lets enjoy the Mexican drama. It always a joy 🙂

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    • Herrerra strikes me as a good coach.

      NO WAY would he be able to handle all the rules and weirdness of MLS without exploding.

      In MLS you can’t get too high, you can’t get too low.

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    • yep. you’ll notice that it’s all tv azteca employees who are making the charges (luis garcia is now a commentator for tv azteca).

      not that i wouldn’t love to believe the story (for a couple of reasons), but it’s a little convenient that all the witnesses work for the same company.

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    • red eye, Soccer God, Bring NASL to El Paso,…

      You are to Mexican soccer what biff was to German soccer. Thanks for that.

      Reply

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