USA defender Frankie Hejduk was slapped in the face by a Mexico assistant coach, it has been revealed. The Washington Post has reported that at the conclusion of the USA's 2-0 victory over Mexico in the tunnel, Hejduk was slapped in the face as he headed to the locker room.

Footage of the slapping incident was caught by Univision and they identified the assailant as assistant coach Paco Ramirez.

Hejduk said: "I was just trying to pump the crowd up [as he was leaving the field]. I was actually saying, 'F*&% yeah!' I think they thought I was saying, 'F*&% you.' It was a misunderstanding and I can see why they would be a little bit upset if they thought I was saying the other one, which I wasn't. At the end of the day, no one was hurt.

"There was a little love tap and that was it. I still have my face. No damage done. It was fun. That's just how emotional this game is and that's how passionate they are about their sport. It was none of their players -- I want to make that clear to everyone."

Video: Hejduk cops it:

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