The heat is on Mexico at the COPA America soccer tournament. During its victory over Uruguay in Arizona last night Mexican fans screamed “puto” as Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera prepared to take his goal kicks.
The definition of “puto” is notoriously inexact—some fans think it means a lack of manhood and cowardice, others believe it refers to a male prostitute. But the LBGTQ community is convinced “puto” is homophobic, a gay slur that has no place in the modern game.
FIFA trying to fine Mexico for that puto chant while they’re allowing Qatar to host a World Cup… And Russia too.
— Darren Griffis (@darren_126) June 6, 2016
FIFA, soccer’s discredited governing body, fined Mexico $56,000 for the chant last month. The Mexican team even released a video pleading with its fans to stop chanting “puto.”
But the “puto” pleas are falling on deaf ears. There is increased speculation that FIFA will now take further action against Mexico, with potential penalties including a heftier fine and the team having to play future home games behind closed doors.
I wanna go to Mexico game just to Chant “Puto” with the crowd
— aless (@betterthanyonce) June 6, 2016
But are FIFA and opponents of the chant being too sensitive? There is no conclusive proof that Mexican fans are purposefully seeking to be homophobic when they shout “puto,” as opposed to merely being unpleasant.
Speculation is mounting that FIFA will take immediate action against Mexico for the chant. That would be in contrast to what happened with Nicolas Anelka, the French striker who celebrated scoring a goal for English Premier League club West Bromwich Albion in 2013 by performing the quenelle, a hand gesture, in solidarity with his friend the comedian Dieudonné. Many people think the gesture is anti-Semitic.
But it wasn’t until the following year that Dieudonné was banned from entry to the UK, and Anelka was sacked by West Brom.
“Puto” coincidentally also came into play at a protest outside a Donald Trump rally in San Diego last Friday. Protestors chanted the Spanish obscenity, “puto,” together with “Donald Trump ” and held placards that read, “Trump eres hijo de puta” and “Coachella contra el puto Trump.”
When it comes to Putogate, FIFA should get its priorities straight and instead figure out why the Chilean national anthem last night was wrongly played for Uruguay as they lined up before the game.
