Mexico federation sacks Miguel Herrera after alleged brawl 
The Mexico Football Federation voted on Tuesday to sack coach Miguel Herrera following an alleged incident that took place at the Philadelphia International Airport following El Tri's Gold Cup win over Jamaica. "After listening to all my colleagues who are part of this federation, and reasoning I have made the decision to take Miguel Herrera out of the national team," said incoming federation president Decio de Maria in a statement on Tuesday.
"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," De Maria said. Mexican television commentator Christian Martinoli on Monday accused Herrera of assaulting him in the TSA line at the airport, despite denials from airport officials that any such incident was captured on airport security cameras. Herrera had just led Mexico to a bittersweet Gold Cup victory that included a controversial 2-1 semifinal win over Panama.
TV Azteca on Monday night demanded an investigation, sending a statement to the FMF as well as outgoing FMF president Justino Compean and national teams chief Hector Gonzalez Inarritu:
"The behavior of the manager of the national team is strange to us and worries us enormously," the statement said.
"The federation shouldn't allow attacks like that suffered by our partner Christian Martinoli at the hands of Mr. Herrera.
"Our country needs brave journalists, who are able to share their opinions and who enjoy the freedom of doing so without being attacked," the statement said.
"Mexico needs more liberty, more public debate and less violence."
TV Azteca is owned by Grupo Salinas, which owns Liga Mx clubs Atlas and Morelia as well as the television broadcast rights in Mexico to El Tri, along with Televisa.
Decio de Maria will take over the reins at the federation for Compean beginning on Aug. 1 as federation power shifts hands.
Philadelphia International Airport, via their official Twitter feed, say they did not have any knowledge of an incident in the TSA line involving Martinoli or Herrera.The incident allegedly occurred the morning after Mexico beat Jamaica 3-1 on Sunday to win the Gold Cup at Lincoln Financial Field. TV Azteca's Martinoli, who has been one of the strongest critics of Herrera, said the Mexico coach hit him in the neck with his fist before being separated by fellow commentator and former Mexico player Luis Garcia.
"I looked down to avoid any kind of provocation and suddenly feel a blow to the neck on the right side of my body.
The next thing I see when I look up Luis Garcia is separating a madman who threw punches and kicks while I was insulted," said Martinoli, who added that he wasn't surprised by the emotional coach's reaction.
"Everyone will have his version of events and he probably will deny it, I have no doubt," Martinoli added.
Mexico doesn't play again until its friendlies vs. Trinidad & Tobago and Argentina in September. It faces the United States in the Confederations Cup playoff in October and 2018 World Cup qualifying begins in November.
http://www.espnfc.com/mexico/story/2539748/mexico-federation-sacks-miguel-herrera-after-alleged-brawl [ 此帖被羅力亞在2015-07-29 08:51重新編輯 ]
