Fifa warn Mexico over ‘insulting’ chants

MOSCOW: Fifa said on Tuesday they had warned Mexico over what they said were “insulting and discriminatory” chants during their first Confederations Cup match in Russia.

The incident occurred on Sunday at Mexico’s 2-2 draw against Portugal in Kazan, Fifa said in a statement, just days after they announced stricter measures to crack down on fans’ behaviour at the tournament including allowing referees to stop matches.

Fifa said their disciplinary committee chairman Anin Yeboah had warned “the Mexican Football Federation for the misconduct of a small group of Mexican fans in relation to insulting and discriminatory chants” and said they could take further action in the event of another similar incident.

They gave no details on what action could be taken.

“As you know, Fifa is very serious about the chanting that we do when the goalkeeper takes a kick, and the possible sanctions are serious,” Mexico’s football federation (FMF) said in a statement directed at the team's supporters.

“Our efforts on the pitch will come to nothing if, because of this (behaviour), we lose the match, the game is suspended or you are expelled from the stadium.

“We lose, you lose, everyone loses.”

Fifa have already fined Mexico for fans’ homophobic chants during their qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup.

Mexican players last year launched their own campaign against homophobic slurs during matches. Reuters