Technical error in Azteca stadium Mexico
Technical error in Azteca stadium Mexico
Concacaf says it will investigate “the offensive and discriminatory” homophobic chants
made by Cruz Azul fans during the game against Monterrey.
Players left the pitch for 10 minutes in the Concacaf Champions League semi-final second leg in Mexico City.
Concacaf said it was “extremely disappointed” by the language chanted by a “large number” of Cruz Azul fans.
“We commend the referees for correctly activating the anti-discrimination protocol and the stadium security for
ejecting hundreds of Cruz
Azul fans when the match was paused,” read the governing body’s statement.
“The Confederation has for several months proactively communicated to fans, through its What’s Wrong Is Wrong campaign,
that these types of behaviours have no place in football.
“We are all committed to eradicating the discriminatory ‘goalkeeper’ chant.”
The ‘goalkeeper’ chant involves supporters shouting a homophobic slur when an opposing goalkeeper is preparing to take a goal kick.
In June, FIFA world football’s governing body, ordered Mexico to play two World Cup qualifiers without fans because of
discriminatory chanting.
In the semi-final at Estadio Azteca, referee Cesar Ramos stopped play for 10 minutes in the second half, in line with step two
of FIFA’s anti-discrimination protocol.
The match resumed after hundreds of Cruz Azul fans were ejected.
Monterrey will play fellow Mexican side Club America in the Champions League final in Guadeloupe on 28 October.
The Champions League is an annual club competition featuring teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.