Prior to Saturday’s Copa America Centenario quarterfinal between Chile and Mexico at Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium, organizers hope to quash further chants of “puto” that have been audible previously in the tournament. From the San Jose Mercury News’ Elliot Almond :
Officials of the North and Central America and Caribbean region known as CONCACAF joined with South American federation leaders Thursday to condemn “any chants or actions that are derogatory or offensive during our matches.”
Although fans were asked to hold a minute of silence before the game in Houston to honor the Orlando shooting victims, the Mexican fans used the slur when Venezuelan goalkeeper Dani Hernandez held the ball.
“This behavior does not reflect the true spirit of football and must be stopped,” Copa America officials said in the statement.
Mexican midfielder Hector Herrera indicated Thursday he wished El Tricolore’s fans wouldn’t use the chant.
“I think it is a tradition that has gone on for years,” he said in Spanish at a news conference in San Jose. “I don’t think you can come in and take it away from one day to the next. It’s difficult to get so many people to change it.”