The Mexican Football Federation has lost its latest appeal against fines imposed by FIFA for fans chanting a homophobic slur during international matches, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Tuesday. The decision comes just days before the men's national team opens the World Cup in Mexico City against South Africa on June 11 at the iconic Azteca Stadium, where the chant is frequently heard.
Background of the Chant
The chant, a Spanish word meaning male prostitute, is typically directed at opposing goalkeepers when they take goal kicks. It gained notoriety during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and was repeated at the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in Russia and Qatar, respectively. Despite campaigns by the Mexican federation, including the "wave yes, chant no" initiative, the behavior has persisted.
CAS Ruling
CAS upheld FIFA's fines totaling 140,000 Swiss francs (approximately $178,000) for incidents during matches in 2024 against Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil, and the United States. However, the court lifted a sanction that would have closed part of a stadium at a FIFA-organized event such as the World Cup. CAS noted that the fans' conduct was "collective and widespread, not merely a one-off occurrence," and that the federation could not escape liability despite its efforts to educate and prevent the chant since 2015.
The Mexican federation had argued that it had implemented measures to eradicate the chant, but CAS judges determined that the problem remains significant. Mexico will also host World Cup group-stage games against South Korea in Guadalajara and the Czech Republic at the Azteca Stadium.
This case is part of a series of appeals by Mexico against FIFA punishments over more than a decade, highlighting the ongoing challenge of combating homophobic behavior in football.
