Nations League: Homophobic chants overshadow US-Mexico match

The League of Nations Red card crowds and homophobic chants overshadowed the United States’ victory over Mexico

Once again the Mexican fans showed their bad side. They poisoned the air with homophobic chants in the CONCACAF Nations League semi-final against the United States. This wasn’t the first time. Mexican fans are now known for it and have been punished several times.

Thanks to goals from former Dortmund player Christian Pulisic and Augsburg’s Ricardo Pepe, the US soccer team reached the final of the CONCACAF Nations League. However, the 3-0 (1-0) win over Mexico on Thursday (local time) in Las Vegas was overshadowed by four ejections and mentioned offensive chants. The opponent of the US national team is Canada, which, thanks to the goal of Bayern Munich professional Alphonso Davies, won 2-0 (1-0) over Panama.

Former Schalke 04 players Weston McKinney and Serginho Dest for the USA, as well as Cesar Montes and Gerardo Arteaga for Mexico, were each forced to leave the field with red cards in a turbulent second half. Referee Evan Barton of El Salvador, who refereed Germany’s preliminary round match against Japan in the last World Cup, stopped the match in the 90th minute because of homophobic chants. Then Barton didn’t add twelve minutes as planned, but he did blow the whistle in the eighth minute of extra time as the cheers started again.

Homophobia among Mexican fans

The Central American country has been sanctioned by FIFA more than a dozen times in recent years, including for the Ghost Games. The last investigation by FIFA was in December, after Mexico’s exit from the World Cup in Qatar due to cheers from the fans.

Pulisic scored in the 37th and 46th minutes, and Pepe, who was just substituted, scored the final score in the 79th minute. Pepe was last loaned to Groningen by FC Augsburg. It was the first US team to beat Mexico by three goals in 23 years.

Davis scored the second goal for the Canadians in the 69th minute. The CONCACAF North and Central American Nations League final match will be held on Sunday.

tpo / dpa