Mexico's coach Miguel Herrera had controversially saved his job on the pitch after Mexico won the CONCACAF Gold Cup, but his behaviour off the pitch was too hot to handle for the Mexican Football Federation, and newly appointed president Decio de Maria decided to part ways with the flamboyant coach earlier today.
"El Piojo" was heavily criticized by TV Azteca journalist Cristian Martinolli, who accused the manager of not paying attention to his job in order to fulfill all the marketing assignments he undertook while coaching El Tri. Mexico's performance during the 2015 Copa América infuriated fans and experts, and after narrowly winning the Gold Cup against Jamaica, the now former coach took justice into his own hands by punching the journalist while both were getting ready to board a plane home.
During the incident, the coach's daughter, Mishelle Herrera, was also involved in the argument, even slapping former player and now journalist Luis Garcia for the same reason his father attacked Martinolli. Herrera continued his attacks against the sports caster, who decided to step aside and not listen to any of the coach's comments.
Here's a complete video of the incident.
Por si no lo han visto: parte de la agresión del Piojo y su hija a Martinoli y Luis García https://t.co/ACxxWWVtMA
— San Cadilla (@SanCadilla) July 28, 2015
The newly appointed president of the Mexican Football Federation (FMF), Decio de Maria , explained the board's decision to the media. Apparently, there were some who favored Herrera to continue despite this incident. "It's a complex decision, but it's one that shows what we stand for. Violence doesn't have a place in this society or in football, and no one that wants to make a statement with violence and without any argument can represent the FMF," de María stated.
Sources indicate that Olympique Marseille's coach Marcelo Bielsa, Chile's manager Jorge Sampaoli and even Carlo Ancelotti are some of the options to replace Herrera, since all of the coaches currently under contract with Mexican teams don't have the credentials to take the job.