Nations League Final Paused Due To Mexico Fans Shouting Homophobic Slur Against USMNT

The Nations League final between the USMNT and Mexico was halted by the referee after Mexico supporters were heard shouting a homophobic slur late in the contest. It isn't the first time Mexico fans had an embarrassing impact on a match against the U.S. as a similar scenario unfolded during their CONCACAF Nations League semifinals in June 2023.

With the USMNT leading its rival 2-0 in the final few minutes of Sunday's clash at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, fans could be heard chanting ‘puto.' The slur means male proustite, but in Mexican Spanish it roughly translates to ‘fa----’ and is typically a word used to question someone's masculinity.

The chants from Mexico supporters grew louder when USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner was taking goal kicks.

Despite stadium officials making multiple calls over the loud speakers telling fans to stop the chant, referee Drew Fischer had to take things into his own hands and elected to pause the game for almost five minutes. A large number of Mexico fans left the stadium during the break, but the chants continued shortly thereafter with Fischer stopping the game for a second time shortly before the final whistle.

It was a similar scene to what occurred in June of last year when the U.S. routed Mexico 3-0 in Las Vegas. The referee in that particular contest halted the match in the 90th minute and then blew the final whistle early with four minutes remaining in stoppage time.

"In terms of the chant, I want to make it very clear first and foremost, for our beliefs and our culture, it has no place in the game," USMNT interim coach B.J. Callaghan told the media after the contest last summer. "It has no place in our value system."

As for Sunday's final, the USMNT picked up an impressive 2-0 victory to pick up some hardware. 

Tyler Adams pulled off a wonder goal just prior to halftime with Gio Reyna doubling up the American lead in the 63rd minute.

Mexico still holds a 36-17-24 advantage in the all-time series against the USMNT, but the red, white, and blue have had plenty of success against their rival having not lost to Mexico since September 2019.