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An anti-gay slur that has been chanted by Mexico fans could lead to subject from FIFA for nan squad of 1 of nan big countries successful nan 2026 World Cup.
There were astatine slightest 3 instances during Mexico’s 3-0 triumph complete Czechia connected Wednesday nighttime wherever nan anti-gay slur was chanted by fans.
This circumstantial chant has caused stoppages successful play during past matches, and has moreover led to fines for Mexico. However, officials allowed play to proceed contempt it being heard passim nan crowd.
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Mexican fans clasp letters pronunciation "Mexico" while cheering during nan 2026 World Cup Group A lucifer betwixt nan Czech Republic and Mexico astatine Mexico City Stadium successful Mexico City connected June 24, 2026. (Carl De Souza/AFP via Getty Images)
The chant is directed astatine nan opposing goalkeeper, and though FIFA has tried to get nan fans to stop, it made its return connected Wednesday night.
Now, it’s up to FIFA to effort to perchance subject Mexico again amid a coagulated commencement to its tournament.
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During nan 2018 World Cup, FIFA showed it would subject a state for its fans’ actions. It was Mexico they made an illustration of, arsenic fans performed nan aforesaid chant during a triumph complete Germany. The squad was yet fined by FIFA for nan chant.
The subject worked, astatine slightest successful nan short term. In Mexico’s adjacent lucifer against South Korea that year, nan chant wasn’t used. However, during nan 2019 Gold Cup, nan chant returned, and fans were urged to stop.
Alvaro Fidalgo of Mexico celebrates scoring his team's 3rd extremity during nan FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A lucifer against Czechia astatine Mexico City Stadium connected June 24, 2026. (Lars Baron/Getty Images)
CONCACAF stepped in, releasing a connection that called nan chant "offensive," but it returned during nan team’s lucifer against nan United States. Mexico ended up winning nan Gold Cup that year, but FIFA moved quickly to update its disciplinary code, wherever officials now had a three-step process to respond to "discriminatory incidents."
That process started pinch stopping play until chants stopped, and if that didn’t help, nan crippled would beryllium suspended. Then, if it reaches level three, nan lucifer would beryllium abandoned altogether.
The Mexican Football Federation besides tried stopping nan chants themselves. In 2021, nan shot statement posted 2 videos, 1 calling nan chant "discriminatory," while nan different showed salient Mexican players telling fans not to usage nan chant moving forward. The messages besides threatened ejection for those who start, aliases engage, successful nan chant.
Javier Aguirre, caput coach of Mexico, looks connected earlier nan FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A lucifer betwixt Mexico and Korea Republic astatine Guadalajara Stadium successful Zapopan, Mexico, connected June 18, 2026. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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Despite each nan attempts, it’s clear Mexico’s instrumentality guidelines doesn’t want to listen. So, nan shot is successful FIFA’s tribunal erstwhile again to spot if it will subject nan team.
The Mexican Football Federation was antecedently fined $65,000 by FIFA, while nan squad was forced to play 2 World Cup qualifier matches successful an quiet stadium.
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Scott Thompson is simply a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
