Mexican Soccer Fans Are Reluctant to Give Up a Favorite Chant - an Anti-Gay Slur Kate Linthicum - The Los Angeles Times
go to original June 26, 2017

Federation Wants Mexico's Homophobic Soccer Chant Gone (Wochit Entertainment)

They’ve been begged by star players to stop it, fined repeatedly, and threatened with dramatic sanctions that could hurt their national team’s chances in the World Cup.

But Mexican soccer fans have been loath to give up their favorite game-day chant, a homophobic slur that has been condemned by gay rights groups, government officials and international soccer authorities.

At a recent World Cup qualifying match at Mexico City’s massive Estadio Azteca, game organizers aired messages pleading with fans to not say it. Beforehand, some of the team’s top players had condemned the slur in public service announcements.

But the crowd of more than 80,000 had other plans.

Each time the goalie for the United States team picked up the ball to punt it, the crowd began chanting, “Eehhh,” stretching out the sound like a long musical note on a crescendo. When the goalie finally kicked the ball, the crowd shouted, “puto!” in unison.

The word, which translates roughly to “male prostitute,” has long been used in Mexico as a slur against gay men.

Many soccer fans insist it isn’t meant as an anti-gay insult. They point out that the word has taken on other meanings, including “coward,” and is even sometimes used between friends kind of like “dude.”

Critics say fans obviously aren’t screaming “dude” at opposing teams.

Read the rest at The Los Angeles Times

Related: Despite Progress Over Controversial Mexico Fan Chant, Bigger Tests Remain (ESPN)

Related: 'Friendly' Soccer Exhibition Turns Violent as Fans of Mexican Teams Brawl (Associated Press)

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