RIO DE JANEIRO — The FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) is investigating claims that Mexico fans chanted anti-gay slurs during its opening match against Cameroon at the World Cup.
FIFA says “disciplinary proceedings were opened against Mexico for improper conduct of spectators” last Friday in Natal.
The same chants were heard during the television broadcast of Mexico’s second match against Brazil in Fortaleza on Tuesday.
Get the Daily Brief
The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you.FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Brazil state president Dilma Rousseff have pledged to use the World Cup as a platform to fight racism and discrimination.
Fare, the European fan monitoring group, has also alerted FIFA to far-right banners displayed by Croatia and Russia fans inside stadiums.
FIFA says only one disciplinary case had been opened by early Thursday.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Update: According to Outsports.com, the slur — ¡Puto! — was chanted by Mexico’s supporters during goal kicks by the opposing team’s goal keeper.
The word is slang for “fag” or “man whore” or “coward.” Some say its use in soccer is a cultural phrase that means cowardly and is not directed at gays, but the meaning is clearly designed to mock the opponent as weak and unmanly.
