Explaining the homophobic chant that has Mexico's soccer federation in hot water with FIFA

Simon Borg

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Explaining the homophobic chant that has Mexico's soccer federation in hot water with FIFA image

Mexico's soccer federation has been sanctioned repeatedly by world governing body FIFA in recent years for a homophobic chant used by its fans during Mexican national team games, whether at home or away.

Despite all the steps taken by the Mexican federation, and the repeated discipline, and even match stoppages, the chant continues to be a black eye for El Tri supporters, who are some of the most passionate in the world. 

At one point in the lead-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Mexico was forced to play two of its home World Cup qualifiers without fans in the stands. 

The chant made an ugly return at the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League semifinal played in Las Vegas between the USA and Mexico with the referee stopping play toward the end of the match and even cutting the match short.

It returned again in the 2024 Nations League final in Arlington, Texas, between USA and Mexico. The match was stopped twice late in the game, although it was played to its conclusion, a 2-0 U.S. win. With such regularity, there's a microscope on every single Mexico match to see if the fans can manage to behave.

What is the homophobic chant?

In a practice believed to have started among fans in the early 2000s — one outlet highlights a 2004 Olympic qualifier between the USA and Mexico — Mexican national team fans join in unison to shout a Spanish-language homophobic slur ("p***," which roughly translates to "gay prostitute") when an opposing goalkeeper puts the ball into play on a goal kick. The chant is supposedly meant to intimidate the ‘keeper and the opposing team.

The argument for years was that the word has multiple cultural meanings in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries and that it is not intended as a homophobic slur when used by fans in a stadium.

But there's no getting around the fact that it's a derogatory term that's demeaning to the gay community. FIFA and anti-discrimination groups have made that much clear, and the Mexican soccer federation (FMF) has also recognized it and is taking action.

"It's not the intention with which you shout or with which you chant. It's how the other [people] receive it," then Mexican federation president Yon de Luisa told media in 2021. "If anybody feels it's a discriminatory act, then it is not something that we should include in a conversation. That is no longer a debate. If it is discriminatory, we should avoid it."

In conjunction with soccer authorities and match organizers, the FMF is working to eradicate the chant from its matches with the knowledge that failure to do so could result in escalating punishment from world governing body FIFA.

USA vs Mexico Nations League final 2024

The final of the CONCACAF Nations League in 2024 was twice stopped because of the chant.

USMNT emerged 2-0 winners thanks to a sensational long-range goal from Tyler Adams, his first for club or country for over a year, and a second-half finish from Gio Reyna.

Canadia referee twice halted the game due to the Mexican chant. A statement was issued by CONCACAF, in which they condemned the "discriminatory chanting" and said: "Security staff in the stadium identified and ejected a significant number of fans, and the referee and match officials activated the FIFA protocol. It is extremely disappointing that this matter continues to be an issue at some matches."

USA vs Mexico 2023 Nations League semifinal

The chant started in the first half of the CONCACAF Nations League match between the USA and Mexico at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and a three-step process instituted by FIFA was initiated before halftime with a warning issued to fans.

The chant was audible at other moments, but the referee only escalated the protocol and stopped the match toward the end of the game in the 89th minute when a kick by U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner was met with the loudest chant of the game as Mexican fans grew frustrated with their team losing 3-0 to their bitter rivals.

When the match resumed, the officials added 12 minutes of stoppage time, but they only got through seven of them before the referee decided to stop the match early after another loud installment of the homophobic chant.

What is Mexico doing about the homophobic chant?

The Mexican soccer federation is seemingly pulling out all the stops in an effort to stamp out the chant, although officials didn't acknowledge it was a discriminatory chant until just a few years ago.

The FMF has implemented an anti-discrimination campaign directly targeting the chant and urging fans to refrain from using it. They have worked with match organizers on public address announcements and video board messaging, warning offending fans they will be ejected from the stadium if they're caught.

In addition, match organizers are required to implement a new three-step protocol introduced by FIFA in 2019 for any discriminatory incidents:

  • Step 1: Match stoppage and warning to fans
  • Step 2: Match suspension and players moved to benches
  • Step 3: Abandonment of the match

In 2022, the Mexican federation also threatened to ban any fans caught in the act for up to five years. 

In the brief time since the new measures have been adopted, they've begun to have some effect, but in some cities and stadiums, fans still are not complying.

It is likely to take more time for the chant to be completely eradicated, but the Mexican federation will hope it doesn't come at the expense of competitive point deductions or even expulsion from official tournaments like the World Cup, a scenario that Mexican officials believe is a real risk should the problem persist.

FIFA sanctions for homophobic chants

The chant has been used by fans at Mexican club and national team games since the early 2000s, but it gained worldwide notoriety during the 2014 World Cup. Despite growing condemnation, it returned four years later at the 2018 FIFA World Cup during Mexico's surprise win over Germany.

The Mexican federation has been disciplined on multiple occasions by FIFA since 2015, so many times that it's difficult to keep count. The Los Angeles Times reports that the Mexican federation was fined nine times alone in the lead-up to the 2018 World Cup, in addition to 15 other national federations that were sanctioned for similar fan behavior.

But the punishments are escalating. In June 2021, FIFA sanctioned the Mexican federation for homophobic chants by Mexican fans at Olympic qualifiers played in Guadalajara, Mexico in March 2021: a $65,000 fine and two official home matches played behind closed doors.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee also opened separate proceedings against Mexico in connection with homophobic chants by fans at a friendly against Iceland played in Arlington, Texas, in May 2021. There were chants during Mexico's participation in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals and final in June 2021.

"I want to remind you of the disciplinary measures that FIFA is contemplating," De Luisa told media after FIFA's announcement of the two-match fan ban. "It starts with fines, playing one or two games behind closed doors — which is what we're concerned with today along with the fine — deduction of points, losing matches and exclusion from a competition or tournament. And relegation as far as clubs are concerned. That's the situation today."

There were indications that the heavy FIFA punishment may have helped change fan behavior when exhibition matches played by Mexico's senior national team in June and July 2021 unfolded without incident, but the chant reappeared during Mexico's opening 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup group match against Trinidad & Tobago in Dallas, resulting in a stoppage in play as per the protocol, and a stern warning by CONCACAF to fans. 

The anti-gay chant was used during 2022 World Cup qualifying in home games against Canada and Honduras at the Estadio Azteca. As a result, Mexico was forced to play in an empty stadium for two qualifiers and charged a $110,000 fine in November 2021. 

Mexico fines, bans and other discipline:

Simon Borg

Simon Borg Photo

Simon Borg is a senior editor at The Sporting News who has covered football/soccer for over a decade. A supporter of Italian club Parma Calcio from his years growing up in Europe, he was previously a long-time member of Major League Soccer's digital media team, as a multimedia content producer, on-air personality, and Editor-in-Chief. Based in New York City, Borg is multilingual and has covered the domestic and global scene for TSN since 2021.