FIFA fines Mexico after fans' homophobic chant during World Cup match

Hernandez urges supporters to stop 'puto' slur


Agencies | Published: June 21, 2018 14:37:35 | Updated: June 22, 2018 12:00:11


Mexican fans celebrate at the Angel of Independence monument after win over mighty Germany - Reuters photo

The Mexican Football Federation has been fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,035) after its fans sang homophobic chants.

The chants came during Mexico's World Cup win over Germany on Sunday.

Football's world governing body FIFA said it had also warned Mexico's federation, the FMF, it could face "additional sanctions" if there are "repeated infringements" - though a similar warning was made in November, according to a BBC report Thursday.

"FIFA has a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination," a spokesperson said.

The Mexican Football Federation was sanctioned 12 times for homophobic chanting during the World Cup qualifying campaign, receiving warnings for the first two offences and fines for 10 more.

A FIFA disciplinary panel has also sanctioned the Serbian Football Association with a 10,000 Swiss franc fine for the "display of an offensive and political banner by Serbian fans" during their match against Costa Rica.

The FMF has repeatedly asked Mexican fans to refrain from using the chant, which features the Spanish word for a male prostitute.

Meanwhile, Mexican striker Javier Hernandez has also appealed to his country’s football fans to stop their homophobic chanting at World Cup matches, reports Reuters.

Hernandez posted a message on Instagram on Wednesday asking fans to end the derogatory chant that is usually shouted during their opponents’ goal kicks.

“To all Mexican fans in the stadiums, don’t shout ‘Puto’,” Hernandez said. “Let’s not risk another sanction.”

Last year the FMF successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against two larger FIFA fines for the same offence.

CAS agreed that the chant was not intended to "offend or discriminate" and downgraded the fines to a warning.

However, it also said the chant could still be "considered discriminatory or insulting and should not be tolerated in football stadiums".

It said should the offence take place in the future, "harsher sanctions" should be imposed.

 

Share if you like