LAFC Fans Ruined Their Home Opener By Chanting "Puto" (F****t) Every Time The Goalie Touched The Ball

Source - LAFC opened a new era for the Los Angeles sports landscape on Sunday, defeating the Seattle Sounders, 1-0, in the first match at Banc of California Stadium.

The evening was marred, though, by the presence of the “puto” chant on goal kicks. The chant, which is commonly used by supporters of the Mexican national team, is a homophobic slur and has drawn fines from FIFA against the Mexican football federation.

On Monday, LAFC wanted to condemn the chant before it could be forged into any kind of match tradition. LAFC Co-owner Tom Penn and Josef Zacher, the president of the 3252 supporters section, said in a joint statement:

“The offensive goal kick chant is wrong and not what we are about. We ask that all of our fans and Supporters work to hold each other accountable to eliminate this from Banc of California Stadium.” On Sunday, the LAFC Pride Republic group also urged the club to speak out against the chant.

Huge congratulations to the LAFC on their home opener over the weekend. I’m sure a ton of people watched. Maybe an LA based soccer team will finally help propel the sport into the American mainstream. Then again…maybe not. It seems the only thing that can get people to pay attention to soccer is when something out of the ordinary happens. Unfortunately, the story I’m about to tell you is far too ordinary. Last night, during the LAFC’s first home game, the crowd started chanting “puto” on goal kicks.

“Puto,” according to my Puerto Rican friend Herbert, is the English equivalent to the word faggot. According to my Mexican friend Liz (and her uncle), it’s a cross between the words fag, bitch and cunt. Whichever the case, chanting the word is in bad taste.

Naturally, the Internet was upset at LAFC for allowing the chant to take place prompting them to release the following statement:

Reigniting the “should they/shouldn’t they be allowed to chant “puto” at games debate. Which seems pretty cut and dry to me. Just because something is in another language doesn’t mean it’s right. And just because something is a tradition doesn’t mean it should continue. If that were the case we’d still be drinking out of water fountains based on our race.  I’m not the bad word police and believe me I’m not going to lose any sleep over this. I’m just saying if you’re at a soccer game chanting anything that can be construed as racist or bigoted or homophobic, you need to grow the fuck up. Fifa agrees. They’ve now fined Mexico ten times for using the chant and they are considering taking away home games from any team that continues to allow the chant to take place.

Like I’ve said in the past, intent is everything, and I don’t believe that the chant was mean-spirited.  However, a lack of intent isn’t a get out of jail free card. Soccer in Mexico is as sacred as religion, but even religions change over time. Let’s end this chant and replace it with something more creative. Maybe some sort of personal barb. Good ups to the LAFC for releasing a statement and hopefully other teams follow suit.

PS: 00:23 if you’re curious