Tigres coach Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti has called for increased security at Liga MX games in the wake of the violence on the final whistle of his team's 3-0 victory over Veracruz in Estadio Luis "Pirata" Fuente last Friday.
The violence erupted after Tigres netted three second-half goals, with video footage showing one fan wielding an ice pick. Mexico international Jesus Duenas had his hand sliced open in the mayhem.
"A lot of times we cover up the well after a child has drowned," said Ferretti in a news conference on Monday. "When something happens we seek to be united, to do something and show more solidarity."
Ferretti went on to say that the campaign against violence before and after Liga MX matches is insufficient and that "we need something more."
But the Brazilian coach himself could be in trouble and needed to be restrained by French striker Andre-Pierre Gignac following the match. Ferretti was enraged at seeing the violence and could be heard threatening Veracruz fans by screaming, "You'll see when you go [to Tigres' stadium]."
Tuca Ferretti apparently angry with the police and security in Veracruz.
Photo is already going viral#ligamxengpic.twitter.com/4veoXwMAcV https://t.co/INyrtix6TL
- Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) February 18, 2017
Gignac shouted towards the cameras that Veracruz -- currently in a battle against the drop -- deserve to be relegated and denied suggestions that he provoked Veracruz fans with his goal celebration. The France international explained that he had jumped the barrier after his goal to be with family members.
The Liga MX's disciplinary commission is investigating the incidents, with both Tigres and Veracruz versions of events to be heard this week.
"When you see that they are massacring your brother, because he is my brother, they are my people, you feel an impotence, great desperation," explained Ferretti. "You see ice picks, you see people drugging themselves with cocaine in the stands, you see 10 or 13 guys beating one person up.
"I've not slept for two days because the images came into my head. It's the first time in my life that has happened."
Tigres supporters' group Libres y Lokos released a statement suggesting that the security operation wasn't up to standard, while Veracruz president Fidel Kuri rejected that notion and instead told ESPN that Tigres' Estadio Universitario should not be used due to the behavior of Tigres fans.
Politician Kuri also suggested that Gignac should go back to France and said that his club doesn't have the full support of the local government as it relates to security in the stadium.
There has been widespread talk in the Mexican media of Estadio Luis "Pirata" Fuente possibly not being used going forward in light of the events.