FIFA investigates Mexican fans for homophobic slur at World Cup

Mexico’s fan base is under scrutiny for chanting an anti-gay slur, with soccer governing body FIFA opening an investigation Monday following the nation’s 1-0 World Cup win over Germany. Mexican fans were heard chanting the derogatory slur when Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer prepared a goal kick in the 24th minute in Moscow on Sunday. A new anti-discrimination procedure in place at the World Cup instructs referees to stop the game for a public announcement if any discriminatory behavior, such as anti-LGBT chants, are heard. The official can suspend the game if the chanting persists. No action was taken Sunday by the referee. FIFA did not comment on why the procedure did not take place. “Further updates will be communicated in due course. As proceedings are ongoing please understand we cannot comment further at this stage,” FIFA said in a statement. The Mexican soccer federation has been repeatedly fined by FIFA over fans chanting the slur in recent years, but the sanctions haven’t escalated. The federation and players have previously urged fans to stop the chant to avoid further punishment. “There is only one way this will stop, and that’s for FIFA to halt matches and clear the stands when these chants happen, or mandate the Mexican team play in front of empty stadiums from the first minute,” LGBT activist Cyd Zeigler wrote on Outsports.com.

❚ The team plane carrying Saudi Arabia’s World Cup team caught fire Monday but was able to land safely. No injuries were reported. Flames could be seen coming out of the engine of the Russian Airlines Airbus jet as the team was traveling to Rostov for its match Wednesday against Uruguay. According to an official release from the Saudi national team’s Twitter account, the players all arrived safely at their hotel and “the fire was merely an accident.” The

Mirror reports the aircraft was originally built 12 years ago for U.S.-based Frontier Airlines, then bought by Russiabased Donavia in July 2013. Saudi Arabia lost its opening match in Group A to host Russia 5-0.