FIFA, the international soccer governing body, has again fined Mexico for fans chanting an anti-gay slur during 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Mexico will have to pay a $10,000 fine for the fans repeatedly chanting “puto” during the matches.
Brazil and Argentina were hit with even harsher fines, having to pay $35,000 and $20,000 respectively.
According to the FIFA statement, the three countries’ soccer associations were fined specifically for “various incidents involving discriminatory and unsporting conduct by fans, including homophobic chants.”
Mexico recently appealed fines for previous homophobic slurs, but we have seen no reports from the Court of Arbitration for Sport about whether those fines were upheld or rescinded. Given the new fines for these three Latin American countries, FIFA obviously isn’t too worried about it.
Mexico has been incredibly disingenuous with these slurs, on the one hand trying to stop them because they are offensive while at the same time appealing the fines claiming they are not.
In case there continues to be any question, ‘puto’ is a slur.
