Mexican Players Launch Campaign Against Homophobia

29 of March 2016

Mexico's stars will make a stand against homophobia in a new campaign.,Photo: Reuters/Henry Romero.

Mexico's national team are taking measures against homophobic chants taking place during matches

MEXICO CITY – Mexico‘s national team has launched a campaign to discourage fans from shouting homophobic slurs during football matches.

Andrés Guardado and Javier Hernández are among the players who will campaign against homophobia. Photo: Associated Press/Darryl Dyck. — Javier Hernández (R) is among the players who will campaign against homophobia. **Photo: Associated Press/Darryl Dyck.**

Some of the players who will face Canada in a World Cup tie on Tuesday, including Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, former Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez and PSV Eindhoven’s Hector Moreno, read out a manifesto against abuse under the title “Embraced by Football.”

“To us, differences are no obstacle. To us, we don’t discriminate. To us, we respect everyone’s opinion,” the players said in a YouTube and social media campaign.

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee ruled two years ago that there would be no punishment forMexico‘s FA after Mexican fans chanted the word “puto” – or “faggot” in Spanish – at opposition goalkeepers during the 2014 World Cup.

However, FIFA took a stronger stand this year and Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Peru and Uruguay, were fined by the governing body for homophobic chanting by fans during World Cup qualifiers.