Tata Martino is back in Mexico with a scandal: they accuse Scoponi of having ‘slapped’ a fan

The hours of Gerardo Martino and his coaching staff at the helm of the Mexican national team are numbered. This Sunday, Rosario’s coach landed in the Federal District after being eliminated in the first round of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, something that hadn’t happened since Argentina 78. And his arrival has not been without controversy: while some fans reproached him for not calling up Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández, Norberto Scoponi -one of the closest collaborators- touched one of them with his hand on the face, who accused him in front of the media.

Neither Martino, nor the rest of the members of the coaching staff nor the players who have returned to the country have made any statements, despite passing through the public places of the Federal District airport, for this reason the large number of television cameras and press waiting for them approached and they accompanied us throughout the journey.

There you may see the first annoyance of SergioGiovagnoli, another of Martino’s companions, who was trying to escape from the cameramen and photographers. “How many photos will they take”, he told them as he tried to make room for the immobility of the “Tri” coach.

But the most tense moment came when a fan started questioning ‘Chicharito’ Hernández’s absence from the squad and linking it to Mexico’s early elimination, who drew against Poland, lost against Argentina and beat l ‘Saudi Arabia, but did not reach qualifying for the round of 16, as it had done in all its participations from the 1978 World Cup to this one in Qatar 2022.

The former goalkeeper Norberto Scoponi appeared, who turned around and gave him a couple of ‘affectionate’ slaps, replying: “Don’t talk nonsense”.

“I didn’t even come to receive the national team, but rather a lawyer with whom we would have talks. But we need to stop all types of violence and not only that, given how it happened and not even from any person, I only told Martino what says most of the Mexicans, who agree that he adhered to not calling Chicharito, but no obscene words.”insured Juan Carlos Romero Ávilalawyer, in front of the media.

Martino will have a meeting with the president of the Mexican Football Federation, Yon de Luisa, and the sports director of the Mexican national teams, Jaime Ordiales, who have asked him for a detailed account of what happened during the 2022 World Cup, in order to then establish the future.

“We assume failure”

He was very close to straightening out a World Cup start with little pleasure. If Lionel Messi scored the penalty against Poland, if Saudi Arabia didn’t serve Mexico’s 2-0, Gerardo Martino had the chance to right the ship in the round of 16. But no: despite collecting the same points as Robert Lewandoski’s team, Tata’s team remained out despite a 2-1 draw in their last match in Group C.

“My contract expired when the referee blew the end of the game and there’s nothing else to do,” Martino speculated in a press conference that doesn’t allow for euphemisms.

“I could not tell people anything because I am most responsible for this terrible disappointment and frustration that we have. As a person responsible for what causes a lot of sadness, I take full responsibility for this great failure. There “There is no reason that now makes me think the future should be different. The contract expired when the referee blew the whistle,” explained the former Argentine selector of Mexico, who spared no praise for the Mexican Federation.

“Since I arrived I have worked in total freedom, without interference from anyone. For this I thank the president and sports directors”, said Tata, in what was his farewell.

Martino took charge of the Mexico national team on January 7, 2019 and has since led 66 matches, where he won 42, drew 12 and lost 12, with 116 goals in favor and 55 conceded, positive numbers, but with little flavor .after removal.

In his cycle he won the 2019 Concacaf Cup, but lost the final of the 2021 edition at the hands of the United States, a situation that did not go very well for Mexican fans. In addition, they qualified second in the Concacaf Qualifiers for Qatar 2022, behind Canada and there has been a short circuit with the fans ever since.

His last year in Mexico was hostile with criticism from the press and the public, which intensified with the rejection of the call of the historic goalscorer Javier Chicharito Hernández.