In the run-up to the World Cup, the Mexican football organization loses appeals against FIFA fines due to anti-gay chants by fans

Just days before the World Cup kicks off in Mexico City, the Mexican Football Federation on Tuesday lost its latest appeal against FIFA’s punishments for fans who chanted an anti-gay slur against opposing players.

The latest ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a series of appeals between Mexico and FIFA over more than a decade comes ahead of the men’s national team hosting South Africa on June 11 at the legendary Azteca Stadium, where the chant can often be heard.

The chant, a one-word slur that literally means male prostitute in Spanish, usually occurs when the opposing goalkeeper takes a goal kick.

It went viral at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and was heard again at the following editions in 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar. Mexico fans have defied the federation’s requests and education programs to control the abuse.

The latest case at CAS followed FIFA’s prosecution of incidents during matches in 2024 against Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil and the United States. The chant was heard by anti-discrimination monitors who will also work for FIFA during the 104 matches of the World Cup in Mexico, the US and Canada.

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CAS said the judges upheld fines imposed by FIFA totaling 140,000 Swiss francs (178,000 USD). She lifted a sanction of closing part of a stadium during a FIFA-organized match such as the World Cup.

The court said that during a hearing in Miami in March, the judges weighed the Mexican federation’s mitigation that it «has taken measures since 2015 to educate, prevent and eradicate the chant.»

“They (the judges) noted that the fans’ behavior was collective and widespread, and not just a one-off event,” CAS said in a statement.

The court noted the «unique nature» of the challenge facing Mexican soccer officials and said the federation should not escape liability.

Mexico will also host World Cup group matches against South Korea in Guadalajara and the Czech Republic in Azteca.

Published on June 2, 2026