Football fans in Michoacán, Mexico, got an unexpected match while attending a game on December 4. Violence erupted in the stands after a referee halted the game due to fans shouting a homophobic slur at players.
The game in question was the Liga de Expansión MX quarter-finals match between Club Atlético Morelia and Tampico Madero Fútbol Club. In a fraught final quarter, fans began chanting the word “p*to” from the stands. In English, the word roughly translates as “f*ggot.” Football fans have a long history of chanting the word during games reports Mexico News Daily–something the Mexico Soccer Federation has sought to end.
As such, federation rules state that a referee must pause a match until the crowd stops chanting the word. A referee on December 4 did just that, sending players back to their locker rooms.
En Morelia, Michoacán, ocurrió un enfrentamiento entre aficionados del Atlético de Morelia y policías, luego de perder partido con Jaiba del Tampico Madero #LasNoticiasDeForo pic.twitter.com/ZF8j6I1fWw
— Foro_TV (@Foro_TV) December 5, 2021
At that point, fans turned surly. They began hurling objects at the referee on the field, prompting officials to suspend the game. They also declared Tampico Madero F.C. winner of the match, thus eliminating Club Atlético Morelia from the quarter-finals.
Related: Rainbow stadium controversy ends with defeated Hungarian soccer team heading home
That’s when the crowd turned violent. Fans continued to throw objects onto the field, while others broke out into fistfights in the stands. With arena security unable to contain the mob, police were called to the scene. Video shows officers in riot gear struggling to hold back the mob in the stands. It has since gone viral on social media.
As a result of the riot, the disciplinary committee of the Mexican Football Federation placed sanctions on Club Atlético Morelia. The club will pay a fine as a result, and miss the next three matches of the league.
“The homophobic chant is unacceptable in our soccer [league] and the rules and sanctions will be applied in full,” the committee said in a statement.
The riot at the Liga de Expansión MX quarter-finals is just the latest incident of league referees clashing with fans in the stands yelling homophobic slurs. In September, a similar riot broke out in Mexico City as refs halted the match due to the crowd yelling “p*to.” In June, fans were banned from attending World Cup Qualifying matches after Mexican spectators refused to stop chanting the word.
johncp56
Mexican Football Federation, and my handsome Hispanic men,, thank you for standing up for us., sports is a major area still spewing homophobic words and attitudes., thank you Mexico for looking to the future of human rights
Fahd
Hooliganism among football (soccer) fans is a huge problem in many countries. Whether it’s pressure from international sport authorities or for whatever reason, it is admirable that these Mexican referees are willing to enforce the rules designed to extinguish this homophobic slur. I hope things don’t escalate to the point where referees are hurt or privately threatened outside the playing field. Limiting alcohol sales might be in order too.
Openminded
I assume the officials knew which teams fans were responsible for the chant by penalizing the team. I admire the rule and the enforcement of the rule. It is unfortunate that what is hopefully a small percentage of the fans are able to ruin the sport for everyone while simultaneously insulting the gay community.
wikidBSTN
Kudos to the referee and the Mexican Football Federation. Thank you.
Jim
Those referees are hero’s.
definiton – “a person who is adored or idealized for COURAGE, outstanding achievements or notable qualities.”
alexpof
FIFA is sooo concern about this issue but still they’re having a world cup in one of the most homophobic and intolerant country where not only gay people are persecuted and kill but also where women worth almost next to nothing so this is having a big double standard.
i know nobody outside Mexico will never undersand what yellin P*TO really means so i wont waste my time but i hardly doubt it will stop
stonercharles
so what does it “mean”??? so then, what does it “mean”??? Inquiring minds want to know…..
Cam
Good for the Ref and the federation, continue to make bigotry costly.
Kangol2
Glad that the ref and federation stood up against the homophobia.
Isn’t “p*to” also two different words, both of which can be regular words under one context, and anti-gay slurs under another?