Mexico GK Guillermo Ochoa asks fans to halt homophobic chant or FIFA punishments will get worse
When El Tri resumes its World Cup qualifying campaign in Estadio Azteca tonight (9:30 p.m. ET, FS2), the team will be counting on Mexican fans to give their team some home field support. But goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is asking Mexican fans to refrain from one controversial chant.
The chant, which many Mexican fans yell on goal kicks, has resulted in repeated fines from FIFA because it is considered by some to be homophobic. FIFA's next step may be forcing Mexico to play World Cup qualifiers in empty stadiums, which Ochoa says would hurt the team.
"We have to take each opportunity to tell the people to create consciousness, as the federation has for a while," Ochoa told reporters in Cuernavaca. "We know the chant is not about offending anyone, but there are people that see it like that and we could be affected."
"I believe people want to continue watching the national team in its stadium, we want the people there supporting us and the federation is searching for the best way to get that message across."
The chant is considered by many, including FIFA, to be homophobic, although the Mexican federation denies this. The word used in the chant has slightly varied meanings around the Spanish-speaking world, but FIFA has been clear in its stance, imposing six separate fines totaling $85,000 on the Mexican federation over the last 13 months.
FIFA has moved beyond fines to punish teams for fan behavior before. Last year, Chile was handed repeated stadium bans for homophobic chants used by fans, forcing Chile to play World Cup qualifiers away from their usual home stadium. Croatia also had to play World Cup qualifiers in an empty stadium after fans were accused of chanting fascist slogans.
If Mexico were forced to play World Cup qualifiers in empty stadiums or on the road, it would likely hurt any home field advantage they'd otherwise have, as well as cost the federation valuable revenue.
The chant recently made headlines again when it was used at Atlanta United's debut match, but the club came out strongly against it, threatening to remove any fans who used it. It didn't appear to be a problem in their following home game.
Mexico sits second in World Cup qualifying heading into tonight's match vs. Costa Rica.
MORE FROM FOX SOCCER
