Mexico’s head coach Javier Aguirre was struck by an object thrown from the stands during the match against Honduras. Despite the incident, Aguirre downplayed it and focused on the game itself.

“It’s football,” Aguirre remarked about the incident. Reflecting on the match, he added, “It was clean, it was tough. They deserved the win. I’m not one to complain. It’s just another game; we need to recover and reorganize.”

The Moment Javier Aguirre Was Hit

Taking responsibility for the loss, Aguirre said, “I’m not here to point fingers. The main person responsible for this defeat is me.” He brushed aside the severity of the incident involving the object—a can thrown by a fan—that caused a cut to his head.

Aguirre began his post-match press conference with messages of solidarity, acknowledging those affected by Tropical Storm Sara in Honduras and victims of flooding in Valencia and other regions of Spain.

Discussing the game, he said, “The first goal was a bit unusual—a poor clearance by [goalkeeper] Guillermo Ochoa—and then, while trying to equalize, we got a bit disorganized and conceded the second goal.” Looking ahead, he emphasized confidence in his players and the need to turn things around in the second leg in Toluca.

CONCACAF to Investigate Incident

The Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) condemned the attack on Aguirre and announced that the incident has been referred to its Disciplinary Committee for review and investigation.

“Team and fan safety is a top priority for CONCACAF. Violent behavior like this has no place in football,” the organization stated.

The attack occurred at the conclusion of Honduras’ 2-0 victory over Mexico in the first leg of the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals. Aguirre was hit in the head while approaching Honduran coach Reinaldo Rueda for a post-match handshake.

While Aguirre downplayed the event, Rueda condemned the violence: “This should never happen—here, or in any stadium in Honduras, or anywhere in the world. I’m saddened because he’s a human being. It could have been me; he was coming over to greet me at that moment.”