Former Cruz Azul player Gabriel Pereyra in post-match altercation

Former Cruz Azul player Gabriel Pereyra, now coach of Correcaminos, punched a Cruz Azul Hidalgo player after a 0-0 draw in Liga de Expansión, casting a shadow over his coaching career.

Gabriel Pereyra, a former Cruz Azul player and current head coach of Correcaminos, was involved in a physical altercation following a Liga de Expansión match against Cruz Azul Hidalgo. The incident took place at the Estadio Marte R. Gómez after a 0-0 draw, with footage showing the coach throwing a punch at Cruz Azul Hidalgo player Yahir Taboada.

Jazmín Rodríguez said: "La Liga de Expansión MX volvió a quedar envuelta en polémica después del empate 0-0 entre Correcaminos y Cruz Azul Hidalgo". Players and staff from both teams quickly intervened to separate those involved, preventing the situation from escalating into a full-scale brawl. After several tense minutes on the tartan track, tempers cooled and the teams left the field.

A Past with La Máquina

Pereyra has a historical link with Cruz Azul, the club he joined from River Plate in 2005. He made 92 appearances for the Celeste and scored two goals before departing in 2007. After retiring as a player in 2013, he began his coaching career, managing teams like Atlante, Cafetaleros and Morelia before taking charge of Correcaminos for the Apertura 2026. This incident stands in stark contrast to the trajectory of Cruz Azul's first team, which sits seventh in Liga MX with 16 points from 10 games and faces Pumas next on October 12.

The team managed by Esteban Landazábal, Cruz Azul Hidalgo, earned a point from this draw to reach eight points, though they remain second-to-last in the Liga de Expansión table. Their recent form is a concern, with just one win in their last five matches. While the senior squad fights to close a four-point gap to leaders Toluca, the reserve team faces its own battles in the development league. Fans can check the club's full schedule on our fixtures page and the current roster on squad.

Pereyra's actions have drawn strong condemnation from supporters and raise questions about the expected conduct of a professional coach. The Liga de Expansión, intended as a breeding ground for Mexican football, does not need this kind of episode. Correcaminos, based in Tampico, will have to assess their coach's situation just weeks after hiring him.