Mexico fans BANNED from attending home World Cup qualifiers due to homophobic chanting

FIFA have banned Mexico fans from attending their country’s first two home 2022 World Cup qualifiers after making homophobic chants during two Olympic qualifying games in March.

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee also fined Mexico’s Football Federation (FMF) £47,000 for chants from supporters during games against the Dominican Republic on March 18 and the United States on March 24.

Mexico’s games against Jamaica on September 2 and Canada on October 7 in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying will be played in empty stadiums as a result of the sanctions.

‘I hope this is the first and last sanction that FIFA imposes,’ FMF president Yon de Luisa told a news conference.

FIFA has also launched a separate investigation against the FMF in relation to homophobic chants by Mexico fans during a friendly against Iceland in Arlington, Texas on May 29.

De Luisa said there is a risk to Mexico’s involvement in the 2026 World Cup – which they are set to co-host with the United States and Canada – if fan behaviour does not improve.

‘How can we host a World Cup if we are going to have our stadiums empty?’ he added.

‘If we don’t stop now, the consequences for Mexican football could be devastating.’

The homophobic chant stems from a cheer that Mexican fans make when the opposition goalkeeper takes a goal-kick.  

The phrase translates to a male prostitute and supporters have come under fire for their repeated use of it during matches.

The Mexican football federation were fined £7,600 when fans directed the chant towards Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer during the 2018 World Cup.

In the following year FIFA announced that several disciplinary sanctions including fines, playing games behind closed doors, deduction of points or forfeit game and exclusion from a competition or tournament could all be imposed in the future.