Mexico coach defends gay slur chant by fans at the World Cup: Report

Mexico World Cup coach Miguel Herrera has said his team supports the fans' chanting of 'puto' during the World Cup matches in Brazil. The term has many derogatory meanings, including being used as a gay slur.

The New York Daily News reported:

Herrera says Mexico fans shouting the slur as the rival team's goalkeeper takes a goal kick is ''not that bad.'' He says ''We're with our fans. It's something they do to pressure the opposing goalkeeper.''

Fare, the European fan-monitoring group, first reported the chants at Mexico’s 1-0 win over Cameroon in Natal. FIFA subsequently opened a disciplinary case against the Mexico federation, which is responsible for fan behavior inside stadiums.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Brazil President Dilma Rousseff have pledged to use the World Cup as a platform to fight racism and discrimination.

Although a debate has raged over whether the fans are indeed yelling a gay slur, some defend the chant as the word's other perceived, and less offensive, non-gay meaning — whore.

Either way, Univision has muted the chant in broadcasts in the past, and ESPN said it will likely do the same in Mexico's final group game in Brazil. FIFA is looking into the matter as well and has opened a case against Mexico.