Major League Soccer (MLS) team San Diego FC has announced that it is investing in major stadium surgery and security initiatives to crack down on the use of an “anti -homosexual” song used by fans. The chant has often been used by fans by the Mexican national team for many decades and has previously resulted in sanctions against the country’s football club in the past.
San Diego FC’s plan to crack down on song includes a drastic increase in security at Snapdragon Stadium.
“The number of stadium security staff will be increased and strategically placed in key areas with an increased presence near the opposite goalkeeper section. Criminals will be identified, pushed out and may be subjected to further sanctions,” the team wrote in its announcement.
The team now also reserves the right to pause, suspend or completely give up a match if fans use singing.
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Fans cheer during a game between San Diego FC and St. Louis City at Snapdragon Stadium on March 1, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
In addition, the team makes major changes in the team’s communication with fans during and before games to prioritize the deterrent of song.
Stadium staff will now place a flyer in all seat cup holders reminding fans that discriminatory language will not be tolerated, with the message: “Aquí no” / “Not here.” Before Kickoff, Team CEO Tom Penn, head coach Mikey Varas and plays Aníbal Godoy pre -recorded a message that discourages song.
And during the match, the team shows a visible banner in stage that reinforces the message that condemns song in the supporter section.
The chant was last used under the team’s home opener St. Louis City on March 1st. Fans used song three times despite frequent trials from stadium staff to get songs to stop via the public address system.
Varas condemned the fans who used it after that game.
“The song heard tonight is unacceptable,” Varas told journalists. “It is outside our value system. It does not represent the players, myself or the club, and it certainly does not represent San Diego or Baja California. It is not a reflection of who we are. We are a society full of love, of support, and we believe in the power of diversity.”
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Fans cheer during a game between San Diego FC and St. Louis City at Snapdragon Stadium on March 1, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The chant, traditionally used, while an opposite goalkeeper is taking a goal kick, comes from the Mexican city of Guadalajara in the early 2000s.
The chant, who is repeated the use of the word “Puto” and translates in English into “male prostitute”, was largely unaddened by larger football institutions and was prominently heard by an Olympic qualifying in 2004 between the United States and Mexico.
However, it became more controversial and wrinkled as the years went by.
In 2019, FIFA introduced its three -stage protocol, the same thing now used by San Diego FC, designed to deter supporters from participating in song.
By 2021, all Mexico fans were banned from a couple of World Cup qualifiers due to song.
Fans of San Diego cheer for their team during the MLS match between San Diego FC and St. Louis City SC at Snapdragon Stadium on March 1, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee announced that the Mexican national team should play its World Cup quality matches against Jamaica and Canada that year in a blank stadium after fans used Chant during Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football Nations League (Concacaf) games against Costa Rica and USA USA USA. The team was also fined $ 73,000.
The United States against Mexico Concacaf Nations League matches was suspended in back-to-back year in 2023 and 2024, after Mexico fans used sang both times.
Now the song has gone its way to the MLS rows and the San Diego FC is trying to slow it down from spreading.
