San Diego FC’s inaugural home game faced a serious issue on Saturday night. Fans used homophobic language during the match, prompting strong reactions from the club’s head coach and sporting director. They called the chants “unacceptable” and said they do not reflect the club’s values.
The offensive chants occurred late in the game, which ended in a 0-0 draw against St. Louis City SC. Despite warnings shown on video boards, a portion of the crowd, around 34,500 fans, continued to chant. The warnings emphasized that discrimination has no place in sports and asked fans to stop.
Coach Mikey Varas, who speaks both Spanish and English, addressed the issue after the game. He stated, “The chant that was heard tonight is unacceptable.” He added that it doesn’t represent the players, the club, or the San Diego community, which values love and diversity.
Varas pointed out that the chant didn’t come from the club’s main supporter group, La Frontera, but rather from a broader section of the crowd. He made it clear that continued use of such language would not be tolerated, suggesting that those who chant should reconsider attending games.
Tyler Heaps, the sporting director, echoed Varas’s sentiments. He stressed that the club’s core values prioritize kindness and respect. He assured fans that the team would work to prevent such incidents in the future.
This chant is common in Mexican soccer but is not widely accepted in Major League Soccer. Historically, it has disrupted matches, often during goal kicks by opposing teams. FIFA has established protocols to address the chant. The first instance results in a warning, the second can lead to players returning to the locker rooms, and repeated offenses might even lead to match abandonment.
Despite its prevalence in Mexican football, the chant has faced backlash, leading to fines for the Mexican Football Federation. Instances of the chant caused interruptions during games between the U.S. and Mexican national teams. In 2023, a Concacaf Nations League match was cut short due to the chant’s persistence.
While Major League Soccer has not seen this chant become routine, teams like LA Galaxy and LAFC have actively sought to combat its presence in their matches. The league remains committed to maintaining an inclusive and respectful environment for all fans and players.
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San Diego FC, MLS, Soccer
