Soccer Extreme : A Mexican footballer has been forced to issue an apology after he pretended to give an opponent swine flu.
Chivas Guadalajara defender Hector Reynoso coughed in Sebastian Penco's face during a game against Chilean side Everton in a Copa Libertadores match on Wednesday.
Mexico's Chivas' Hector Reynoso
Chivas drew 1-1 to reach the knockout stages of Latin America's most important club tournament.
Reynoso said: "I've cooled off now, but at the time I reacted and, perhaps, it wasn't an appropriate thing that I was doing.
"I offer my apology to the club and player...I belong to a club that has lots of history and rules, and I know I am going to be punished."
Video : Player of the Chivas Skip Flu
Fifteen people in Mexico have died of swine flu and the outbreak has prompted South American football officials to question whether the two Mexican teams that have reached the last 16 – Chivas and San Luis – should be allowed to play.
The effort to contain the virus in Mexico has wiped out most of the sports schedule in the country. All 176 professional football games this weekend will be played in stadiums shuttered off to fans.
Dozens of events in Mexico from auto racing to golf to baseball have been cancelled or postponed. Even events set for next month or during the summer are under threat.
FIFA, the governing body of world football, says it is monitoring the flu outbreak to determine whether six World Cup qualifiers in the region in June should go ahead. (thesun)
Chivas Guadalajara defender Hector Reynoso coughed in Sebastian Penco's face during a game against Chilean side Everton in a Copa Libertadores match on Wednesday.
Mexico's Chivas' Hector ReynosoReynoso said: "I've cooled off now, but at the time I reacted and, perhaps, it wasn't an appropriate thing that I was doing.
"I offer my apology to the club and player...I belong to a club that has lots of history and rules, and I know I am going to be punished."
Video : Player of the Chivas Skip Flu
Fifteen people in Mexico have died of swine flu and the outbreak has prompted South American football officials to question whether the two Mexican teams that have reached the last 16 – Chivas and San Luis – should be allowed to play.
The effort to contain the virus in Mexico has wiped out most of the sports schedule in the country. All 176 professional football games this weekend will be played in stadiums shuttered off to fans.
Dozens of events in Mexico from auto racing to golf to baseball have been cancelled or postponed. Even events set for next month or during the summer are under threat.
FIFA, the governing body of world football, says it is monitoring the flu outbreak to determine whether six World Cup qualifiers in the region in June should go ahead. (thesun)