SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Diego FC coach and sporting director expressed disappointment and anger after their club's inaugural home match was marred by occurrences of a homophobic chant. The chant, commonly heard at Mexican national team matches, was heard three times during the second half of San Diego's match against St. Louis City at Snapdragon Stadium.
The club swiftly condemned the chant, with the coach addressing the issue in both Spanish and English during the post-match news conference. He emphasized that the chant goes against the club's values and does not represent the community of San Diego or Baja California. The club made it clear that such behavior is unacceptable and has no place in their stadium.
The chant, a one-word slur, is often directed at opposing goalkeepers during goal kicks and has been a recurring issue in Mexican soccer, both at club and national team levels. Despite fines and efforts to curb the chant, it continues to persist, even during matches in the U.S. involving the Mexican national team.
The club's main supporter section, La Frontera, was not involved in the chant, which was attributed to a portion of the general crowd. The sporting director reiterated the club's commitment to its core values, emphasizing the importance of being good people and ensuring that such behavior will not be tolerated in the future.
As the club looks ahead, it remains dedicated to fostering a community of love, support, and diversity. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in eradicating discriminatory behavior from soccer matches, both in the U.S. and internationally.
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