Elliott Almond, Bay Area News Group, reports that Mexican soccer fans were told to stop their homophobic chants Thursday on the day Copa America Centenary officials announced the quarterfinal game in the Bay Area between Chile and Mexico.
The announcement came on the heels of Mexico’s fans chanting the slur during a game a day after 49 people lost their lives at a gay nightclub in Orlando in what authorities have described as a hate crime and terrorist act.
Although fans were asked to hold a minute of silence before the game in Houston to honor the victims, the Mexican fans used the slur when Venezuelan goalkeeper Dani Hernandez held the ball.
“This behavior does not reflect the true spirit of football and must be stopped,” Copa America officials said in the statement.
