Mexico’s soccer federation has repeatedly been sanctioned by FIFA, the world governing body of soccer, in recent years for the homophobic chant used by its fans during national team games, whether they are played away or at home.
Despite all the steps taken by the Mexican federation, there are some passionate supporters of El Tri who continue to chant and wear black eye black, even during match stoppages and despite repeated disciplinary actions.
Mexico was compelled to play two matches in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup 2022 at home, without any conditions, to secure a spot in the tournament.
The referee stopped the match even shorter, as an ugly chant was made towards the end of the semifinal played between Mexico and USA in Las Vegas, during the 2023 CONCACAF League Nations.
Referee Barton took the decision to abandon the game because of the homophobic chant. It was largely gone in the US, but when it got nasty it came back with a fury. I’m scared this is empowering Mexico fans when their national team is down. THEY ended the game tonight.
In the early 2000s, fans of the Mexican and USA national teams would join together in unison to shout a homophobic Spanish-language slur (“p***” which roughly translates to “prostitute”) when the opposing goalkeeper puts the ball into play, supposedly meant to intimidate the opposing team and goalkeeper. This chant was highlighted in a 2004 Olympic qualifier between Mexico and the USA.
The argument for years was that when utilized by supporters in a stadium, it is not meant as a homophobic insult, and the term possesses various cultural significances in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking nations.
Taking action is recognized by the FMF (Mexican Soccer Federation) and it is clear that anti-discrimination groups and the FIFA community have made significant efforts to address the derogatory term that demeans the gay community.
In 2021, Yon de Luisa, the president of the Mexican federation, informed the media, “If it is prejudiced, we should refrain from it.” That is now a settled matter. “If anyone perceives it as a biased action, then it is not something that should be part of a discussion,” it is about how others interpret it. “It is not the purpose behind your shouting or chanting.”
The FMF is working in conjunction with soccer authorities to eradicate the chant from its matches, knowing that failure to do so could result in escalating punishment from the world governing body, FIFA.
What happened in USA vs Mexico 2023 Nations League semifinal?
The chant started in the first half of the CONCACAF League Nations match between Mexico and the USA at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with fans being given a three-step process warning before halftime.
And the crowd has officially been warned about “the chant” in the 13th minute. #usmnt
Partido detenido por el famoso grito de la hinchada mexicana. Y la pantalla del estadio da instrucciones, por las dudas (?) pic.twitter.com/MPZ4GmSsyt
The Mexican fans grew frustrated as their bitter rivals lost 3-0 to the team. In the 89th minute, the game came to an end when Matt Turner, the U.S. Goalkeeper, met the loudest chant of the game with a kick. The referee only escalated the protocol, but the chant was audible at other moments throughout the match.
El árbitro detiene el partido por grito discriminatorio. Vergonzoso lo México en la cancha, y vergonzoso lo de México en la tribuna. 🤦🏻♂️#USAVsMéxico #LigaDeCampeones #Concacaf #Semifinal pic.twitter.com/yyfoYswvEb
The match came to an early stop when the referee decided to end it before the full seven minutes were completed. However, the officials added an additional 12 minutes of stoppage time, and the match resumed when the whistle was blown. (The highlight of the game was seeing the fans queue up to witness another loud installment of the homophobic chant.)
The event organizers, CONCACAF, failed to recognize that the game was prematurely halted.
Concacaf official has just told me that the match HAS NOT been abandoned because of homophobic chant despite it finishing 4 minutes before the 12 minutes of stoppage time were up.
However, CONCACAF later released the following statement in the hours after the match ended.
Overnight, CONCACAF released a statement confirming it is investigating the continued use of homophobic chants by Mexico fans during last night’s game. The match was twice halted, the second time being stopped early in added time. pic.twitter.com/A5rOYie7Sf
What is Mexico doing about the homophobic chant?
A couple of years back, authorities refused to recognize it as a discriminatory chant until the Mexican football federation is seemingly making every possible effort to eliminate it.
If the offending fans are caught, they will be removed from the stadium, receiving warnings via public address announcements and video board messages. The organizers of the match have collaborated with the FMF on the campaign against discrimination, specifically focusing on the chant and urging fans to abstain from its use. The campaign has been put into effect by the FMF.
We’re Mexicans and we’re better than this!!🇲🇽💪🏽 Time to end the offensive chant!!🗣🚫#SupportWithoutOffending pic.twitter.com/rGcpT5wn6P
Furthermore, event coordinators are obligated to enforce a novel three-step procedure introduced by FIFA in 2019 for any instances of discrimination.
In 2022, the Mexican association additionally cautioned about the potential of forbidding any onlookers associated with the occurrence for a limit of five years.
Since a brief period of time, some stadiums and cities have adopted new measures, which have started to have an effect, although there are still fans who are not complying.
If the problem continues, Mexican authorities believe that a genuine danger is a situation that the Mexican federation will desire to avoid, which could result in competitive point deductions or even expulsion from official tournaments such as the World Cup. However, it will probably require additional time for the chant to be completely eliminated.
FIFA sanctions for homophobic chants
Despite facing growing condemnation, Germany surprised Mexico to win the FIFA World Cup 2018, marking their return to success after four years. However, it is worth noting that the Mexican national team and club fans have been using the chant since the early 2000s, gaining notoriety worldwide during the World Cup 2014.
According to The Los Angeles Times, 15 other national federations were penalized for comparable fan conduct, along with the Mexican federation which received nine individual fines prior to the 2018 World Cup. The Mexican federation has faced disciplinary actions from FIFA numerous times since 2015, to the point where it becomes challenging to keep track.
The Mexican Football Federation was fined $65,000 in March 2021 for homophobic chants by fans during the Olympic qualifiers played in Guadalajara, Mexico. The sanctions imposed by FIFA in June 2021 mark an increase in the severity of punishments.
In June 2021, there were shouts during Mexico’s involvement in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals and final. In May 2021, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee also initiated independent actions against Mexico in relation to derogatory shouts by supporters at a friendly match against Iceland held in Arlington, Texas.
De Luisa informed the media following FIFA’s declaration of the fan ban for two matches, stating, “I would like to bring to your attention the disciplinary actions that FIFA is considering. This is the current situation. And in terms of clubs, demotion is also a possibility. Defeat in matches and disqualification from a competition or tournament. Reduction of points, playing matches without spectators, which is our main concern today, along with the monetary penalty, begins with fines.”
The chant resurfaced in Dallas during Mexico’s initial 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup group match against Trinidad & Tobago, leading to a pause in the game in accordance with the protocol and a serious caution by CONCACAF to supporters. There were signs that the severe FIFA penalty may have contributed to the alteration of fan conduct, as evidenced by the uneventful exhibition matches played by Mexico’s senior national team in June and July 2021.
In November 2021, Mexico received a $110,000 penalty and was compelled to compete in a vacant arena for two qualifiers due to the utilization of the homophobic chant in the 2022 World Cup qualification matches against Canada and Honduras at the Estadio Azteca.