Sergei Grits, AP
RIO DE JANEIRO — A monitoring group has challenged the FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) to show leadership in tackling discrimination after the sport’s world governing body dropped an investigation of Mexico fans chanting an alleged gay slur.
FIFA’s disciplinary panel ruled Monday that the chant heard during Mexico vs. Cameroon on June 13 “is not considered insulting in this specific context.”
Closing that case ended potential FIFA action against Brazil’s football federation after fans exchanged the same chant during the host nation’s game against Mexico last Tuesday.
Fare, which monitors discrimination at matches, said the ruling contradicted expert opinion and FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s pledge to use the World Cup to fight discrimination.
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“A genuine zero tolerance approach to all forms of discrimination will mean that FIFA will need to take some difficult decisions,” Claudia Krobitzsch, Fare programs coordinator said in a statement. “In the longer term it is the only way to set out clear leadership and deal with a real issue in football.”
FIFA can open disciplinary cases against national federations, which are responsible for fan behavior inside stadiums.
Blatter has repeatedly said, including at FIFA’s congress in Sao Paulo two weeks ago, that points deductions are more effective than fines to solve such problems.
Earlier Monday, Fare reported to FIFA that supporters from Germany, France and Belgium have worn black face make-up during matches.
It also advised FIFA that a pitch invader at Germany-Ghana on Saturday had “neo-Nazi references painted on his body.”
Fare insists the Mexican fans’ chant, traditionally aimed at the opposing team’s goalkeeper when taking a goal kick, is offensive.
Still, FIFA disagreed and dismissed an improper conduct charge.
Fare was invited by UEFA, which controls European football, to work at the 2012 European Championship and place spotters from participating nations among the fans to help identify offensive chants, flags and banners.
That partnership saw several of 16 competing nations in Poland and Ukraine fined within days of abuse being reported. Croatia and Russia were repeatedly sanctioned.
FIFA does not have a similar agreement with Fare in Brazil, although it has welcomed evidence from any source to support its match commissioners’ reports.
On Saturday, images of at least two Germany fans appeared on social media with blackened faces at the team’s match against Ghana.
FIFA said it was analyzing the incident, and the pitch invasion.
It has also taken reports of far-right banners reported among Croatia fans at the June 12 opening match against Brazil, and from Russia fans at its first match against South Korea last Tuesday.
The latest Fare report on Monday included an incident at a Colombia match of “a man wearing a clerical costume daubed with swastikas.”
Blatter has stepped up FIFA’s fight against discrimination in the past 18 months, and created a task force to suggest ideas.
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