In a shocking incident, Javier Aguirre, the head coach of Mexico’s national soccer team, was struck by a beer can thrown from the stands following his team’s 2-0 loss to Honduras in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals. The incident occurred after the match at Estadio Francisco Morazán in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on Saturday.
As Aguirre was walking toward the Honduras head coach for a post-match handshake, a projectile from the crowd struck him in the head.
The impact caused a scalp wound and blood began to flow, but Aguirre remained composed, continuing the handshake. The Honduras coach, visibly concerned, wiped blood from Aguirre’s cheek.
In a matter-of-fact response, Aguirre later downplayed the incident, saying, “Being hit by a beer can? It’s nothing.”
In the post-match press conference, Aguirre was asked about his condition, to which he responded, “It’s nothing.” He continued, “They deserved to win. They outperformed us in many aspects. There’s no need to dwell on anything else. This is soccer, and I’m not one to complain.”
CONCACAF released a statement condemning the attack, saying: “Violent behavior in soccer is unacceptable. We prioritize the safety of teams and fans.” The organization pledged to investigate the incident and referred it to their disciplinary committee for further action.
Aguirre, who has a long history in international coaching, previously led the Mexico national team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, and again at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
In 2014, Aguirre took over as head coach of Japan but was dismissed after just seven months due to allegations of match-fixing during his time at Zaragoza in 2011, along with Japan’s disappointing quarterfinal exit at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
In March 2022, Aguirre returned to club management, taking charge of Mallorca, where he worked with rising star Lee Kang In. He then returned to the Mexico national team in July 2023 for a third stint as head coach.
Comments0