Mexico Fires Miguel Herrera Day After Claim He Punched Journalist

Miguel Herrera helped Mexico avoid missing out on the 2014 World Cup and he led his country to triumph at the 2015 Gold Cup earlier this week, but that wasn’t enough to save his job. The Mexican Federation called a press conference Tuesday afternoon to fire Herrera.

Reports circulated on Monday that Herrera was involved in an alleged altercation with a television journalist at the Philadelphia airport. The reporter claims Herrera punched him in the neck.

Herrera’s job was already in question following a poor showing at the Copa America in June when Mexico failed to advance out of group play. Was the reported altercation the reason for the firing or an excuse?

U.S. international Herculez Gomez, who currently plays in Liga MX, offered up an interesting take on the firing.

Imagine if ESPN ran the USMNT(everything)… That’s kinda the hot topic in Mexican futbol right now.. A certain Network calls the shots.
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) July 28, 2015

U can tell the press isn’t happy w/ the way El Tri players shut them out at Gold Cup… Philly airport incident just the tip of the iceberg.
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) July 28, 2015

Whatever the reasoning, Mexico will now need to find someone else ahead of the all-important October Confederations Cup playoffagainst the United States.

Even before hiring Herrera's replacement, Mexico has had more coaches since Sept. 2013 (4) than the #USMNT has had since 1999 (3).
— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) July 28, 2015

Meanwhile U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann finished fourth at the Gold Cup and by most accounts seems to be on safe ground with the USSF and president Sunil Gulati. Klinsmann signed a four-year contract extension in Dec. 2013. The Washington Post reported he made nearly $2.5 million last year, which gets him some leeway.