CNN
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Mexico national football team manager Javier Aguirre was left with a bloodied head after he was hit by a can thrown from the stands following his team’s 2-0 defeat to Honduras on Friday.

Footage posted on social media showed Aguirre walking across the field in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, as objects thrown by the crowd landed on the ground around him. One hit Aguirre’s head and exploded with fluid as he winced and opened a gash on his scalp.

Blood began to rush to his face as he was attended to by his support staff and a physiotherapist followed him around the pitch, applying gauze to the cut. Aguirre then threw away the mesh and walked off the field, protected by a security line holding up riot shields, while trash from the stands was thrown around their feet.

He then downplayed the incident, saying it was “nothing.”

“They deserved to win, they were better than us in areas, I have nothing left but to congratulate them, and well, try to lift the spirits of my team. The other thing is there’s no point in even mentioning it because it’s football, I’m not one to complain,” he told ESPN.

Meanwhile, both the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) – one of FIFA’s six continental governing bodies – and the Mexican Football Federation condemned the incident in statements released after the match.

“The safety of the teams and fans is a priority for Concacaf. This type of violent behavior has no place in football,” Concacaf said, adding that the incident will be referred to the disciplinary committee for “further review and investigation.”

The Mexican Football Federation reiterated this statement, condemning the incident and urging institutions, managers, players, fans and the media to create a safe environment.

Mexico will have to overcome a 2-0 deficit when they play Honduras at home in the second leg of the quarter-finals on Tuesday if they want to progress to the Nations League semi-finals in March.