[Preliminary report. ~1:00 am, Friday 10 July 2009]: Following a first half where both teams had a man sent off, Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre got involved in a semi-live play late in the second half (1:35 in the video above). As Panamanian Ricardo Phillips ran down the sideline in front of Aguirre, attempting to keep the ball in play, Aguirre stuck out his foot and appeared close to kicking Phillips in the crotch. Phillips promptly shoved Aguirre. Both Aguirre and Phillips received red cards.
Replays show that Aguirre seemed to think that the ball was going out, and extended his leg in order to stop the ball. Mexico was pressing for the win, and coaches often trap the ball if it comes to them, so his response was probably instinctual. Cynics have pointed out that Aguirre's foot was far from the ball: however, you have to remember that he was probably trying to step on it to stop it, and he is an aging coach, not a pro player. At most Aguirre's kick might have been instinctual aggression: he was frustrated at Panama's negative tactics, and in a moment of madness, his attempt to stop the ball turned into an effort to hurt Phillips. However, I think it is more likely he simply didn't have the coordination to get out of the way.
After receiving his red card, Aguirre left the field without protest. Comparatively, Phillips waved off all attempts to usher him from the pitch. [video- 1:45 onwards] The problem? He appeared to be concerned that fans would throw objects at him as he left. Of course, it also conveniently prevented the game from continuing with Panama a men down. It took more than 10 surreal minutes before half the Gold Cup staff and Mexican star Momo Ochoa helped to escort him from the field (and he still had things thrown at him).
The rest is more or less as outlined in the AP report. Just note that the AP report fails to accurately cover the intricacies of the initial incident.
The game ended in a 1-1 tie.
You have to wonder how Phillips will be disciplined. After all, he has a pretty good case for not leaving the field. The whole affair was a lot like one of those "You Are the Ref" comic conundrums.
[Apologies: I had initially written that only Panama had a man sent off the first half. Mexico's Luis Noriega was also sent off.]
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