The Mexican soccer federation’s recent attempt to overturn FIFA’s penalties for fans’ use of a homophobic slur has failed, as confirmed on Tuesday.
This latest decision comes from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and adds to a decade-long series of disputes between Mexico and FIFA. The ruling arrives just as Mexico gears up to host South Africa in the World Cup’s opening match on June 11 at the iconic Azteca Stadium, a location notorious for the chant.
The offensive chant, which translates to a derogatory term for male sex workers in Spanish, typically erupts during goal kicks taken by opposing goalkeepers.
It gained international attention during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and was also prevalent in the subsequent tournaments held in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022. Despite educational initiatives by the federation aimed at curbing the chant, fans have continued to ignore these efforts.
The recent case at CAS followed FIFA’s investigations into incidents during matches in 2024, including those involving teams from Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil, and the United States. Discrimination monitors, who will also oversee events during the World Cup’s 104 matches in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada, reported the chant during these games.
Court officials upheld FIFA’s imposed financial penalties, which amount to 140,000 Swiss francs (approximately $178,000). However, they decided not to enforce a sanction that would have closed sections of a stadium during FIFA-organized events like the World Cup.
During a hearing in Miami in March, CAS judges considered arguments from the Mexican federation, which claimed to have implemented measures since 2015 to educate fans and eliminate the chant.
“They [the judges] noted that the actions of the fans were widespread and not isolated incidents,” CAS stated in their announcement.
Recognizing the distinct challenges faced by Mexican soccer authorities, the court concluded that the federation could not escape accountability.
Additionally, Mexico is set to host group-stage matches in the World Cup against South Korea in Guadalajara and the Czech Republic at the Azteca Stadium.
