Soccer America's Mike Woitalla noted: "Teams around the world are being punished with fines or stadium closures for racist chants. ESPN might employ the same tactic since it's apparent when there is about to be a goal kick.Īfter a player in Major League Soccer was suspended for using a gay slur, the Houston Chronicle noted that "a group of Dynamo supporters has embraced the tradition, which originated in Mexico and is common at many MLS stadiums." Our friends at Gay4soccer implored MLS to take action against the use of " puto" in its stadiums, writing that "it's a word that has no place in soccer."
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This has been an issue with Mexico's fans and the chant before, and Spanish TV broadcaster Univision has at times muted the sound of the crowd during opposing goal kicks. We are now and we will be vigilant to prevent a recurrence of such language being broadcast on our air.
Q: Were people at ESPN aware of the " puto" chant and its meaning?Ī: "No. Our control of the audio level is limited because we do not have specific microphones on the field." Q: Does ESPN control the crowd noise level at all or is this a feed?Ī: "The audio is supplied by FIFA. I reached out to ESPN to see if the network was aware of the chant and got this reply from a spokesman to my questions: Mexican fans argue that they don't use it as a homophobic slur, but it is as nonsensical as Dan Snyder and others claiming that "redskin" is not a slur but a term of 'endearment.' It is the typical response from a bully."īrazil's fans got into the act during the 0-0 draw with Mexico on Tuesday, with one writer noting, "Brazil supporters trolling Mexico with the 'Puto' chant on every Mexico goal kick." I am sure if you ask any gay man who grew up in Mexico he will find this word deeply offensive and hurtful. Therefore it is being used as a homophobic slur in this instance, there are no two ways around it. "Yes, the word ' puto' has different meanings, but there is only one interpretation in this particular case which is to question one's manhood. I am not gay but I have always defended equal rights and respect for everyone. I am from Mexico and this behavior brings me profound shame.
No other country in the world does this, and it would be unacceptable in any U.S stadium. "The media should make a bigger deal out of this and publicly shame that country and its fans. I know exactly what they mean when they yell that slur. for 15 years, but I was born and bred in Mexico and my family is still there. I watched both games on ESPN (in English, not ESPN Deportes).
Every single time the opposing goalie had a goal kick they chanted. "I heard them during the Cameroon game and also today against Brazil. The word is slang for "fag" or "man whore" or "coward." Some say its use in soccer is a cultural phrase that means cowardly and is not directed at gays, but the meaning is clearly designed to mock the opponent as weak and unmanly.Īndres Aradillas-Lopez, an economics professor at Penn State, was born in Mexico and the slur disgusts him, as he told me via email: ¡Puto!," many of Mexico's supporters chant laughingly during goal kicks by the opposing team's goal keeper ( see video from a 2013 U.S.-Mexico game for an example). FIFA to investigate gay slurs Podcast: Why 'puto' is offensive