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Ex-Mexico coach Miguel Herrera investigated for political tweets

MEXICO CITY -- The trouble isn't over for fired Mexico national football team coach Miguel Herrera.

He is now under investigation for possible violations of electoral laws for politically oriented tweets sent the day of June 7 midterm elections, authorities said Friday.

The notoriously exuberant Herrera was dismissed as coach on Tuesday following a television reporter's claim that Herrera punched him at a U.S. airport. The reporter, like many fans, had criticized the Mexico squad's lackluster performance.

The federal prosecutors' office for electoral crimes said Friday it is investigating Herrera for possibly violating laws that prohibit campaign activities on election day and several days before. The office said it wants to question Herrera but has so far been unable to locate him at his home.

On election day, Herrera tweeted "Don't forget to vote, let's go with the Greens" and "The Greens fulfill [promises]" -- apparent references to Mexico's small Green Party.

Electoral laws say campaigning should stop just before an election, to give voters time to think.

In recent comments to Fox Sports, Herrera said he hadn't been paid to send the tweets, saying he did it "out of conviction." But he acknowledged it was an "act of stupidity on my part" to have sent them.