NPR asked Herculez Gomez to talk about the "chant": https://www.npr.org/2021/06/13/1005...acks-down-on-homophobic-chant-at-soccer-games
It would be easier, and cheaper, to simply not sell and block off all seats within throwing distance of the field and arrest anyone entering that area. Of course that does not address the problems of misbehavior in the stands among the fans but we need to first address the safety of the players and match officials. Also, to address the problems others pointed out about barriers around the field: Those "barriers" could actually be netting like is used behind the goals and above the glass at hockey matches. That kind of barrier can easily be designed so that, in the event of a crowd surge, it can be penetrated or avoided. But I do have to question how Hockey can have a solid barrier to fans, the glass and walls, and not have the problem of fans crushing each other. To me the loss of money caused by not selling seats close to the field is more than offset by the enhanced player and official safety of not having haters in range of the field. Also the very idea of arresting someone for committing a hate crime like throwing things at players and then having that same person back on the streets the next day is offensive. Hate crimes like we have seen should not be bailable until at least three days after arrest. I am also unconvinced that banning people has any effect on behavior at all and I do not see how it can be enforced if the person banned really wants to be in the stands. It is VERY easy to change your appearance so as to avoid any form of facial recognition in existence and finger printing everyone is pretty much impossible.
I do not know the "why" but I do know I have rarely seen fan misbehavior at hockey matches. That is except at the youth level when there are a lot of parents, with the next Wayne Gretzky in tow, present. (The same kind of thing that parents of the next Mia Hamm cause in soccer.) "The only thing wrong with youth sports in this country is the adults." Back on topic: (Sort of) Maybe we could station snipers in the upper corners of the stands with instructions to shoot anyone throwing anything or invading the pitch. Those snipers would go for the good wound but... Having thought about the problem even more I think that the best "solution" would be to simply block off and not sell any seats in throwing range of the field and arrest anyone entering those "forbidden" areas. There can be nothing thrown at players when fans are kept totally away from the field.
I agree that punishment has to be enforced in order to change behavior, but I dont think it is fair for mexican players to be punished based on whatever their fans do. I think there has to be law enforcement actions involved in terms of identifying people in the stands who cross the line and get them that way.
I agree with you, youth hockey has some horrible moments. I think that is a common issue in youth sports. Hockey being a more aggressive sport would lead to aggressive fans, one would think. But most interactions seem to be yelling and taunts in between beers.
First two home qualifiers behind closed doors. Not for throwing shit…but for the chants. Mexico has been sanctioned by FIFA for the ongoing homophobic fan chant, according @ale_orvananos. As punishment, #ElTri will play without fans during their first two World Cup Qualifiers against Jamaica and Panama in September. https://t.co/fofMdGjadX— Felipe Cárdenas (@FelipeCar) June 18, 2021 I am kind of surprised that FIFA is sanction Mexico for the behavior of fans that attend games in the US. I guess that’s one of the advantages of FIFA being able to do whatever the ******** they want.
Hmm it's a start but I'd also spare a thought for the workers who had to clean up that mess after the game.
But the ******** chant has routinely been done in Mexico for decades, so it's not like there isn't a track record of bad behavior.
The article mentions something even more serious: As Americans, we should encourage the Mexicans to keep chanting it.
The official statement, at least as read on ESPN, mentions the chants back in March during Olympic Qualifying, which was in Mexico, but we all know it was what happened in Nations League that broke the camel's back.
It was also mentioned FIFA is looking at incidents during the friendly with Iceland...which was before the Nations League final...so, don't touch that dial. Personally, I'd make Mexico play those two matches in Monterrey and remove the altitude advantage.
I agree with the law enforcement/ security angle, but we all know in the Azteca they aren’t going to do a damn thing… probably not able to do anything unless they designate 1/2 the attendance to security. the only way to hit them where it hurts is to reign in the shitbags in this manner, and hopefully the fans will start policing their own.. I think it’s a great and surprising move by FIFA, hopefully it extends beyond the chant and addresses the more serious issue of objects being thrown.. this has been going on for waaaay to long..
It's always interesting to see the number of identifiable stewards at UEFA matches (which aren't usually that badly behaved). US-based matches never have anywhere near the number of obvious security folks.
In the match Mexico vs Trinidad and Tobago match, the referee has stopped the match for discriminatory chanting. This action is part of Concacaf's anti discrimination protocol— W Gold Cup (@GoldCup) July 11, 2021
Well said sir as I revisit this thread after Mexico's unlucky draw against TnT. Game was stopped twice for the chant and so far FIFA has only investigated up to the Olympic Qualifiers. They have plenty of new material over the last few Mexico games to unpack. In order for this to stop I am afraid Mexico might have to be withdrawn from international competition for some time. At the minimum Mexico's qualifiers will be played behind closed doors.
FIFA, in spite of words to the contrary, is not interested in fairness or equality or safety or any of the buzzwords that are spouted by their various minions. Their ONLY interest is making as much money as possible from football. I sometimes wonder if world football would be better off without FIFA or if their powers were drastically reduced. The upholstered parasites under the FIFA umbrella, and most of the national football associations, virtually never do anything they are not forced to. They do not really care about the players or the teams or the fans or anything that does not add money to their bank accounts.
Yep, when Mexico has problems, it's easier to just blame the "Evil Gringos / Yankees / Imperialistas" for them. It's like people who "Blame the Jews" for their own failures.