Mexico tries to banish homophobic slur from football

Mexico are playing World Cup qualifiers in front of a limited number of tightly controlled fans as part of efforts to stamp out an anti-gay slur in the football-loving nation.

When Mexico meet Panama today in the Azteca Stadium in the Mexican capital only around 2,000 of the 87,000 seats will be full, as they were against Costa Rica on Sunday.

Fearful of Mexico losing its role as joint host of the 2026 World Cup, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) has introduced a system of online ticket registration and QR codes for attendees.

It has also boosted stadium security to identify anyone using the homophobic chant frequently shouted at opposing goalkeepers when they take a goal kick.

If caught, the offenders face a five-year ban from stadiums.

The slur - "puto" - means male prostitute and is widely used to insult someone's masculinity.

Some fans welcome the tough measures against the chant, which first emerged as a taunt against a goalkeeper more than 20 years ago.

"Hopefully the homophobic cry will be eradicated once and for all," Jose Jimenez said before entering the stadium for the game against Costa Rica that ended in a draw.

But some other fans said that they did not understand what the fuss is about.

"That word is in common use. I don't know where they got that it's a bad word," said Ismael de Jerez.

"I think they're exaggerating," he added.

Repeated punishment

The strict monitoring allowed the Mexican team to avoid playing two games behind closed doors, as world governing body FIFA had initially ordered.

For the fixture against the United States on 24 March, the system will be tested with a larger crowd of 35,000 or 40,000 fans.

Mexico has been repeatedly sanctioned over the years for fans shouting the homophobic slur.

Fines