Mexico coach defends gay slur chant by crowd

Mexican fans celebrate after their team’s 1-0 victory over Cameroon during the group A World Cup soccer match between Mexico and Cameroon in the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, Friday, June 13, 2014. AP

SANTOS, Brazil — Mexico coach Miguel Herrera has defended World Cup fans chanting a gay slur which is under investigation by the sport’s international governing body.

Mexico fans shouting the slur as the rival team’s goalkeeper takes a goal kick is “not that bad,” Herrera said Friday.

“We’re with our fans. It’s something they do to pressure the opposing goalkeeper,” he said.

Fare, the European fan-monitoring group, reported the chants at Mexico’s 1-0 win over Cameroon in Natal.

FIFA subsequently opened a disciplinary case against the Mexico federation, which is responsible for the behavior of its fans inside stadiums.

The chant originated with fans of Mexican club Chivas, then became popular during a Mexico-United States qualifying match for the 2004 Athens Olympics played in Guadalajara. It has become a common chant at professional matches across Mexico.

“That was how the chant was created and it was adopted by the other fan groups in Mexico,” Herrera said.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Brazil President Dilma Rousseff have pledged to use the World Cup as a platform to fight racism and discrimination.

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