Just days before the World Cup kicks off in Mexico City, the Mexican soccer federation faced another setback as it lost its most recent appeal against FIFA sanctions related to fans chanting an anti-gay slur directed at opposing players.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ruling marks the latest chapter in a prolonged series of appeals spanning over a decade, occurring before the men’s national team is set to host South Africa on June 11 at the iconic Azteca Stadium, where this chant often resurfaces.
The slur, which translates to “male prostitute” in Spanish, is typically voiced when the opposing goalkeeper is preparing for a goal kick.
This chant gained notoriety during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and has continued to be heard in subsequent tournaments in 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar. Fans have ignored the federation’s educational efforts aimed at addressing and curbing the abuse.
The recent ruling stemmed from FIFA’s disciplinary actions concerning incidents that took place during games in 2024 involving teams such as Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil, and the United States. This chant was monitored by anti-discrimination officials, who will also oversee activities at the World Cup’s 104 matches across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada.
The CAS judges upheld FIFA’s fines, amounting to 140,000 Swiss francs ($178,000), but decided to reverse a ruling that would have closed part of a stadium during FIFA-organized events, including the World Cup.
During a hearing in Miami in March, the court considered the Mexican federation’s argument that it has implemented measures since 2015 to educate fans and mitigate the chant.
However, the judges observed that the fan behavior was collective and pervasive, not an isolated incident, as stated by CAS in its announcement.
Highlighting the “unique challenges” faced by Mexican soccer authorities, the court asserted that the federation could not evade responsibility.
Mexico is also set to host World Cup group-stage matches against South Korea in Guadalajara and the Czech Republic at the Azteca Stadium.