by TRAVIS YOESTING

The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) finally seems to be taking its fans’ homophobic chanting seriously. Finally. The FMF held a press conference on Friday detailing concrete steps it will take to eradicate the goalkeeper chant that FIFA has branded as discriminatory and unacceptable in football.

For years, the culture of soccer in Mexico and many areas in the U.S. has tolerated the use of an anti-gay slur during soccer matches. As opposing goalkeepers take restart play, usually a goal kick, fans shout “puto,” a homophobic slang for a male sex worker. While many who shout the phrase claim it is not homophobic (it’s not up to them), these words from a Liga MX Femenil player speak to how harmful the chant is better than I ever could.

FIFA was able to largely stop the chant during the 2018 World Cup by threatening fans with expulsion, but across North America the homophobia continued unabated; it was prevalent throughout the 2019 Gold Cup this summer. This summer, FIFA introduced a new disciplinary code, one that in part was designed to cut out discrimination. In Europe, this mostly targeted the rampant racism. In the U.S. and Mexico, it targeted homophobia.

The threat of FIFA forcing Mexico to forfeit World Cup qualifiers appears to be working. The FMF press conference on Friday detailed ways it will target those who continue to use the “puto” chant at Liga MX matches. Read more via The 18