Fans of the Mexico national football team continue their anti-gay accounts during matches
On July 1st, the Copa America 2024 football match between Mexico and Ecuador (Group B) was played at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale (Ariz.), which ended in a draw (0 – 0). Mexico out, Ecuador in the quarter-finals.
A football match tainted by anti-gay chants from Mexico fans, no strangers to these demonstrations of hatred and racism.
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In addition to the countless announcements that appeared on the stadium’s big screen, one was also displayed in Spanish.
“The referee indicated that the match may be abandoned due to discriminatory behavior among spectators. Discrimination in football stadiums is not tolerated. If this continues, the match will be suspended and possibly cancelled.”
Present among the Mexican fans was Jorge Maynez (38 years old), one of the candidates for the Presidency of Mexico on 2 June, who on his X profile deplored the behavior of his fellow countrymen.
“The same joy you feel when you are with thousands of Mexicans watching your team turns to shame when you hear this discriminatory cry in Pride month. (…) Let this be the last time that something is shouted against rights and freedoms in a national team match… never that shout again. (…) It is a pride to have this flag, it is a pride to have this shield; but please, let this be the last time we hear anything in favor of discrimination.”
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The CONMEBOL Confederation which organized the Copa America uses the FIFA protocol for discriminatory chants which is divided into three phases in which referees can: stop, suspend or end the match in the event of continuation of discriminatory chants.
And if these homophobic chants were to occur during the course of the 2026 Football World Cup (Canada, Mexico and the United States of America), in particular, during the matches in Mexico, FIFA could be pressured to take more decisive action against the homophobia of Mexican fans.