Football teams fined by FIFA after fans chant homophobic jibes
FIFA has fined six football associations following homophobic chanting during 2018 World Cup qualifying matches.
Chile, Argentina and Mexico are among six football associations that have had disciplinary proceedings opened against them by FIFA due to homophobic chants by their fans.
Chile’s fine is related to anti-gay abuse chanted throughout all four of their World Cup qualifiers – with fines totalling 70,000 Swiss francs ($69,430).
Similarly, the Argentine Football Association has been fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($19,840) for the homophobic behaviour exhibited by its supporters during its match against Brazil.
The governing bodies for Mexico, Peru and Uruguay have also received the same sanctions for individual cases, while a case against Honduras remains pending.
“All of the proceedings relate to homophobic chants by the respective team’s fans, with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee finding the associations to have violated article 67 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC),” a FIFA statement read.
“The Disciplinary Committee took the decisions after analysing all of the specific circumstances of each case, in particular, the position adopted by the association as well as the anti-discrimination match observer’s report and the relevant evidence available.
“The concerned parties have been notified of the decisions,” it added.
Last year, gay former Leeds Utd footballer Robbie Rogers spoke out about upcoming World Cups in Qatar and Russia, saying it is “insane” that they are being held there – given the country’s poor records on LGBT rights.
LGBT rights groups in 2010 said they were “deeply concerned” by FIFA’s decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar.
FIFA in 2013 announced its intention to put pressure on Qatar to relax its anti-gay legislation ahead of hosting the 2022 event.
The head of the women’s England football team Casey Stoney said she would not attend Qatar because gay people are not welcome there.
