Mexican soccer federation fined for chants

MOSCOW — The Mexican soccer federation was fined $10,000 for "discriminatory and insulting chants" during Sunday's World Cup game against Germany.

FIFA also is considering further action against fans who take part in the chant. A source told ESPN's Rene Tovar that if the chants continue during matches, stadium security would begin to identify and remove the offending fans from the stands.

FIFA, under pressure to stop racist and anti-gay activity in Russia, is using a new anti-discrimination procedure for the World Cup. Under the procedure, referees are instructed to stop the game for an announcement on the public-address system when discriminatory behavior is seen or heard. If it continues, the

official can suspend the game, and then abandon it if the behavior persists.

That procedure was not used after the anti-gay slur was chanted Sunday.

Mexico striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, one of the team's most popular players, called on his country's fans to stop their anti-gay chanting.

"To all Mexican fans in the stadiums, don't shout 'pu--,' "Hernandez said on an Instagram post Wednesday. "Let's not risk another sanction."

The Mexican soccer federation has been repeatedly fined over fans' anti-gay chants but the sanctions haven't escalated. The federation and players previously have urged fans to stop the chant through public statements but that has proved unsuccessful.

Serbia also was fined $10,000 on Wednesday over its fans' "offensive and political" World War II-era banner at the team's 1-0 win over Costa Rica. Serbia has had problems with far-right nationalist fans in the past.