FIFA open investigation into homophobic chant by Mexico fans during game against Poland
According to AS USA journalist, Alejandro Gómez, the slur was not heard during Mexico’s World Cup opener against Poland on Tuesday.
FIFA has opened an investigation against the Mexico national team, alleging that the Mexico fans sang a homophobic chant at the 974 stadium in their World Cup opening match on Tuesday night against Poland. The game ended in a 0-0 tie; 24 hours later soccer’s governing body communicated that the fans were heard using the chant.
Over recent years the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) have started a campaign to abolish the chant aimed at the opposing goalkeepers taking the goal-kick, using the slur ‘eeeehhhhh ... puto,’ which translates in English to calling them a male prostitute. Gay right groups have criticised Mexican fans for the chant and have been campaigning to abolish the slur.
The Governing body is working alongside the FMF and gay right groups to prevent Mexican fans from shouting the chant. El Tri was fined during the 2018 World Cup and during the World Cup qualifiers last year for the use of the slur. The Mexican Football Federation thought they had the problem solved, but it appears that the frustration of the fans during the 0-0 draw against Poland saw them using the chant once again.
AS journalist says chant not heard
According to AS USA journalist Alejandro Gómez, the homophobic chant was not heard during the game between Poland and Mexico at 974 stadium. Gómez said that the fans did chant ‘eeeehhhhh,’ but never said anything else following goal-kicks from Wojciech Szczęsny at certain points of the game.
However according to other reports the Mexican fans did chant ‘el que no salte es un polaco maricon,’ which translates to English for ‘whoever doesn’t jump is a gay Pole.’ This could lead to the governing body fining the Mexican Football Federation; they are expected to conclude their investigation before Mexico’s next World Cup game against Argentina on Saturday.