Mexico’s start to the 2021 Gold Cup campaign proved to be less than ideal, with a poor 0-0 draw against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday night even worse from alleged racist scandal in the stands and a serious injury to winger Hirving Lozano
The reigning champions went into the match and expected a big win before going away with a disappointing goalless draw. Despite 30 shots and seven on goal, the North American nation could not get the ball past Trinidadian goalkeeper Marvin Phillip.
Mexico split its list between the Gold Cup and the Tokyo Games and forced a shallow bench. With few options at his disposal, head coach Tata Martino received another blow when Lozano was ruled out for the rest of the tournament.
The Napoli striker was worse off in a brutal collision with Phillip, which forced the player to be carried off the pitch on a stretcher before rushing to hospital for an incision in his eyebrows and neck hyper-extension.
? | NOTE
Report médico de @ HirvingLozano70. ?
Despite the favorable results of the studies, Hirving is staying at the hotel in recovery. Concern.
➡️ https://t.co/fNsJKEfuGg#FuerzaChucky | # FMFporNuestroFútbol pic.twitter.com/i6pSK2l6v4
– National Selection (@miseleccionmx) July 11, 2021
Since then, it has been confirmed that Lozano has been discharged from hospital and is recovering at a hotel in Dallas, although his injuries will keep him out for four to six weeks.
“From the bench you could not say what was wrong and we were visibly worried about the situation and what happened to him. We all thought that something had happened that critically affected his health, “assistant coach Jorge Theiler – who took over after Martino when he is serving his national league suspension – stated after the match.
“We never give an opinion on the show. It is up to you [the press] to make that assumption. But all players need to be protected. That’s what VAR is for. I do not know what it is for if they are not going to use it. “
He added: “Right now we are only focusing on Chucky’s health. That’s the priority right now. Not the football player Chucky but the person Chucky.”
However, Mexico’s problems do not end there. Trinidad and Tobago have lodged an official complaint with CONCACAF over alleged racism and threats from the support of their opponents.
According to Futmex Nation, there was tension when the game was stopped in the 85th minute after clearly hearing chants a second time. Hector Herrera, one of the outstanding players of the match who did well to control the midfield despite all these adjustments, urged the spectators in the stands to stop.
However, the defense were on their toes and allowed no space for a finish. 93 minutes into the game, Rogelio Funes Mori had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. A final stadium-wide song was heard very audibly just before the last whistle, an abominable end to a clearly frustrating night.
In a statement posted on social media, the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association declared: “The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association strongly condemns the discriminatory acts, racist comments and threatening messages directed at our players, staff, supporters and country after the Senior Men’s National Team 0-0 result against Mexico on July 10, 2021.
“Discrimination and racism have no role in our game and our society.”
