Homophobic Chant Returns to DICK’s Sporting Goods Park
A subset of Colorado Rapids fans chanted the P-word, despite MLS efforts to remove the chant from the beautiful game.
As first reported by the Denver Post, MLS writer Brendan Ploen humiliated that “Eeeeeehhhh puto! Cry returned in the closing minutes of Saturday’s Colorado Rapids-Sporting Kansas City game at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.
As I photographed the entertaining but tense game, bottle song rang out from the southwest stands behind my trusted location. It’s the nearby seating area where the Rapids benchers keep warming up while the game is being played.
It could be heard clearly across the stadium every time Sporting KC goalkeeper John Pulskamp raised and put the ball down the field.
The insult was also picked up by the TV and radio microphones on the field side and their national and international broadcasters.
I last heard this chorus on June 6, 2021 during the Concacaf Nations League Finals between the United States Men’s National Team and Mexico at Mile High Stadium in Denver.
I didn’t just have to listen to immature vocals and bowing. I, along with my work colleagues and USMNT players, have been pelted with beverage cups, their contents, and food by spectators who enjoy destroying those around them.
Then we saw referee John Pitti stop play. The game only resumed after the players and the venue’s announcer made impassioned pleas for the lewd fans to stop using the chant.
On May 22, 2022, the United States Soccer Federation responded by banning discriminatory chants at international matches sanctioned or administered by US Soccer.
Associations have both FIFA and Concacaf procedures in place aimed at quashing homophobic chants that often creep into CONMEBOL, Concacaf and national team matches.
The protocol requires immediate execution of a three-step process:
1. If play is stopped, both bilingual audible and written warning announcements will be made.
2. Interruption of the game.
3. Abandonment of match play.
MLS leadership has endorsed the produced and produced version of League’s ZERO TOLERANCE policy.
Regrettably, that policy or procedure was not followed in the Rapids home opener. The Centennial 38 Supporters Group has since released a statement on their Instagram denouncing the behavior and a culture of see something say somethingand saying that should this happen again, violators will be thrown out among other penalties.
Call it a missed opportunity for referee Allen Chapman to act. Also the host organization.
A missed opportunity to both re-educate audiences and reset the adult expectations of paying and composed fans. And rules they have to abide by, whether in attendance at home or as ambassadors of the club and their badge on the street.
ZERO TOLERANCE towards homophobic behavior means just that. It’s that black and white
That being said, the ball is now in the joint hands of the league, club and venue.
Their swift review of successive incidents and subsequent punishment should result in the banishment of these perpetrators who lack character, respect and decency.
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