Fans in Mexico could be banned from football stadiums for five years if they are proven to have participated in homophobic chants. The decision was taken by the FMF (Mexican Football Federation) and announced on Monday (17).
The measure is an attempt by the entity to end the chants of “faggot” against the opposing goalkeeper in goal kicks. Because of this, in recent years, FIFA has fined the FMF several times in World Cup Qualifying matches held at the Azteca Stadium. There is the threat of new sanctions.
Punished fans will be banned from attending football matches in the country. It is unclear how the suspension will be implemented.
Other expressions considered homophobic will lead to the same punishment.
The transmissions of the games in Mexico on TV meant that the homophobic screams in the goal kicks were exported to other countries in Latin America. Including for Brazil, which provoked new fines from FIFA. The STJD (Superior Court of Sports Justice) ruled in 2019 that clubs can be punished with the loss of three points if their fans practice discriminatory acts.
The FMF also intends to carry out the online registration of all fans who want to buy tickets and improve the experience of those who go to the stadium through other entertainment options.
The new measures will be tested in the next two rounds of the Concacaf Qualifiers. Mexico will host Costa Rica on the 30th and Panama on the 2nd of February.
These matches would be held behind closed doors because of FIFA’s sanctions for homophobia, but the FMF appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and obtained clearance for 2,000 people at the Azteca Stadium. Thus, the new rule can be implemented.
The federation already followed the recommended three-step protocol for cases of discrimination: interrupt the match so that the loudspeaker system warns fans that shouting is prohibited; if they continue, stop the match again and take the players to the changing rooms; and, finally, quit the game.
The country’s league had already put in place the “Grit Mexico” campaign also to eradicate homophobic screams from stadiums.
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