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San Diego FC Addresses Unacceptable Homophobic Chanting

San Diego FC, a team in Major League Soccer, has announced plans to combat the “unacceptable” homophobic chanting that occurred during their inaugural home match. The game, held on Saturday against St. Louis City, attracted over 34,000 fans to Snapdragon Stadium but was overshadowed by a single-word homophobic chant that reverberated throughout the event.

While the match ended in a goalless draw, the atmosphere was tainted by the offensive behavior of a segment of the crowd. In response, the club utilized social media to implore fans to cease the “offensive chanting,” and later released a statement emphasizing that the incidents during their debut match do not align with the club’s ethos or values.

“Football is meant to unite people, and here in San Diego, we celebrate an inclusive spirit,” the club stated. “The use of homophobic language in our stadium is absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. San Diego FC is founded on principles of respect, and we firmly believe that soccer is a sport for every individual.”

To address the situation, San Diego FC has committed to implementing “immediate steps” to curb this disruptive behavior, with a comprehensive plan expected to be in place ahead of their next home match.

This particular chant, unfortunately familiar in Mexican football, has led to multiple fines for Mexico’s national team by FIFA and is typically directed at the opposing goalkeeper during goal-kicks.

San Diego FC’s head coach, Mikey Varas, voiced strong disapproval of the chanting, stating, “The chant that was heard tonight is unacceptable. It does not reflect our values, nor does it embody the spirit of the players, myself, or the club. This behavior is not representative of San Diego or Baja California and certainly does not reflect who we are.”

Source
www.bbc.com