Mexico soccer coach Javier Aguirre was hit by a can thrown onto the pitch from the stands, left with a bloody head

On By Littum



CNN
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Mexico national football team manager Javier Aguirre was left with a bloody head after he was hit by a can thrown from the stands following his side’s 2-0 defeat to Honduras on Friday.

Recordings posted on social media showed Aguirre walking across the field in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, as objects thrown by the crowd landed on the ground around him. One then hit Aguirre’s head, exploding with fluid as he shook, and a cut opened on his scalp.

Blood began to trickle down to his face as he was tended to by his support staff and a physio followed him around the pitch holding gauze to the cut. Aguirre then threw away the gauze and walked off the field, shielded by a security line holding up riot shields, debris thrown from the stands scattered around their feet.

Afterwards, he downplayed the incident, saying it was “nothing”.

“They deserved to win, they were better than us in areas, I have nothing left but to congratulate them and, well, to try to lift the spirits of my team. The other thing, there’s no point in even mentioning it, because well that is football, I’m not one to complain,” he told ESPN.

Meanwhile, both the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) – one of FIFA’s six continental governing bodies – and the Mexican Football Federation condemned the incident in statements released after the match.

“The safety of the teams and fans is a priority for Concacaf. These types of violent behavior have no place in football,” Concacaf saidadding that the incident will be referred to its disciplinary committee for “further review and investigation.”

Mexican Football Federation echoed this statement condemning the incident and calling on institutions, managers, players, fans and media to create a safe environment.

Mexico will need to overcome the 2-0 deficit on Tuesday when they face Honduras at home in the second leg of the quarter-final series if they are to progress to the Nations League semi-finals in March.