U.S. Soccer bans anti-gay chant at sanctioned matches

U.S. Soccer on Friday passed a ban on discriminatory chanting during all soccer matches it hosts or sanctions in the United States.

The U.S. Soccer Federation board of directors passed a resolution to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for anti-gay chants as well as a plan to implement FIFA's three-step protocol at all matches «promoted or controlled by U.S. Soccer.»

— Soccer on ESPN+: FC Daily | Futbol Americas — Don't have ESPN? Get instant access

In addition, the policy must be followed during any international match in the U.S. sanctioned by the federation.

The resolution now heads to the USSF's rules committee to ensure that it doesn't conflict with any other policies. The board was meeting in conjunction with the federation's annual general meeting in Atlanta.

The Mexico Football Federation (FMF) adopted a similar policy in January with a five-year ban for those who chant.

The issue of discriminatory chants has come up in matches involving Mexico's national team, with the Mexico federation being levied multiple fines by FIFA over the utterance of anti-gay chants by fans. Previously, the USSF didn't have a policy against discriminatory chants.

Three gender equity resolutions were tabled so that more information could be gathered by U.S. Soccer's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Council.

The first intended to update the USSF's existing Rooney Rule for minority hiring. Whereas previously the rule required minority candidates to be interviewed for each open senior executive, full-time head coach and full-time assistant coach position, the proposed language would be changed so that the list of candidates «shall include women and candidates from underserved communities, and shall interview at least two such