Mexico's Aguirre to watch Gold Cup from stands

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Mexico's biggest supporter this weekend in its Gold Cup quarterfinal against Haiti will be coach Javier Aguirre - and he won't be on the sideline.

Aguirre is serving the second of a three-game suspension for an altercation with Panama player Ricardo Phillips during group play last week.

Now Aguirre needs Mexico to beat Haiti on Sunday, otherwise he still will be out during a World Cup qualifier against the archrival United States next month.

The earliest he can return would be for the Gold Cup final on July 26.

Aguirre apparently said all he wanted to in a statement of apology last week posted on the Mexican Football Federation's Web site. He declined to elaborate about his suspension on Wednesday during a news conference at the new Cowboys Stadium, saying only that he gained no special insight by watching Mexico's final group game against Guadeloupe from a suite.

"I saw it more comfortably, but it's not ideal," Aguirre said through a translator. "And that's all I'm going to say."

Aguirre will again be in the stands when Mexico plays Haiti because of a lapse in judgment, conduct he described as "not good." With about 10 minutes left in a 1-1 draw, Aguirre raised his leg and seemed to kick Phillips as he dribbled near the sideline.

After a linesman stopped play, Phillips shoved Aguirre. Players converged in the area and several got into shoving matches. So did rival fans in the stands.

CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer called the incident an "aberration," but suspended Aguirre for three games and fined the FMF $25,000.

The suspension increased scrutiny of Aguirre, who is already facing mounting pressure back home because of Mexico's lackluster showing in World Cup qualifying. Mexico is in fourth place.

Maybe that's why Aguirre has been holding two- and three-a-day trainings for the last three weeks before finally giving his team a day off on Tuesday.

"Not just in the Gold Cup, but in World Cup qualifying as well, it's very important that the whole country is united when it comes to the national team," Aguirre said.

Haiti coach Jairo Rios, fresh off a 2-2 draw against the United States, acknowledged his team was playing a spoiler role.

"We're very emotional. We feel like we're dreaming," Rios said. "With all the respect we have for Mexico and Mr. Aguirre, we will be facing them with no fear."

The Gold Cup games will be the first sporting events at the $1.15 billion Cowboys Stadium, which so far has played host to concerts by George Strait and the Jonas Brothers. The coaches pronounced themselves amazed with the facility, calling it marvelous and wonderful.

"We don't have this type of facility back in Mexico. We're not used to it," Aguirre said. "I have to confess, I have been a Cowboys fan since birth. I have everything when it comes to Roger Staubach. Everything."

In the other quarterfinals, the U.S. plays Panama and Canada faces Honduras on Saturday in Philadelphia, and Costa Rica meets Guadeloupe on Sunday.